Rebel candidate expelled from Congress

Amrith Shenoy, contesting as a rebel candidate in the Udupi-Chikmagalur constituency, was expelled from the Congress on charges of anti-party activities on Saturday.

Shenoy had filed his nominations as an independent candidate on March 26.

Haji Safiullah, general secretary of KPCC, in a press release, stated that Shenoy was removed from the party’s primary membership for a period of six years. The decision was taken on the directions of KPCC president, he said.

Shenoy expressed displeasure at his expulsion from Congress. “I have not received the order. Prior to Assembly election in May, Pramod Madhwaraj, who unsuccessfully contested on a Congress ticket from Udupi, had created ripples by declaring that the BJP door was closed for him. That statement itself had caused damage to the party’s prospects in the previous Assembly election. Why was action not taken against Madhwaraj by the party leaders?” he asked.

“I worked for the Congress all these years sincerely. But I have been sacked without notice,” Shenoy said.