The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday expelled Rajya Sabha MP Ram Jethmalani from the party for six years for “a breach of discipline.” Jethmalani was earlier suspended after he raised his voice publicly against the party’s top leadership.
The decision on Jethmalani’s expulsion was taken at a Parliamentary Board meeting on Monday. The decision had become imminent after Jethmalani gatecrashed a meeting on May 7, challenging the top leadership to decide on his suspension at the earliest.
BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar communicated the party’s decision to Jethmalani in a letter on Tuesday. “The Central Parliamentary Board, after considering all your replies, responses and letters, was of the unanimous opinion that you have indulged in a breach of discipline. The Parliamentary Board, therefore, decided to expel you for a period of six years from the primary membership of the party,” the letter stated.
He will, however, continue to be a Rajya Sabha MP as an independent member.
The BJP on November 26, 2012, issued a show-cause notice to Jethmalani, seeking an explanation within 10 days over the charges he had levelled against erstwhile party president Nitin Gadkari. Jethmalani had openly asked Gadkari to resign.
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