The BJP annulled Sabir Ali's membership in less than 24 hours of his induction in its fold following intense opposition from many party leaders.
Hours after the Bharatiya Janata Party cancelled the membership of Sabir Ali, the controversial leader from Bihar, he said he will sue BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
"The BJP has their own working style, I don't want to comment on it. But I will file a defamation case against Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi for his comments," said Mr Ali who was recently expelled from the Janata Dal (United) by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Mr Ali also challenged Mr Naqvi for a debate.
On Friday, when Mr Ali was recruited by the BJP, Mr Naqvi, without naming him, said in a seething tweet, "Terrorist Bhatakal friend join BJP...soon accepting dawood........" The tweet linked Mr Ali to Yasin Bhatkal, the alleged chief of terror group Indian Mujahideen, who was arrested in August last year.
Claiming he had a much larger support base than Naqvi, Ali said he was ready to go to any village in the country - even Naqvi's - to prove that more Muslims or people will stand behind him than the BJP leader.
"I am ready to go to his (Naqvi's) village or even any village in the country. One would see how many people stand by him. I have people's support. He (Naqvi) is fearing loss of support," Mr Ali said when asked why Mr Naqvi was against him.
The BJP annulled Mr Ali's membership in less than 24 hours of his induction in its fold following intense opposition from many party leaders.
Party president Rajnath Singh laid down some house rules for them today. "Rajnathji has suggested that BJP members must raise internal issues only in party forums and not go public with them," spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
Mr Ali had earlier written to BJP general secretary Dharmendra Pradhan, also in charge of party affairs in Bihar, that in view of the allegations levelled against him his membership be kept on hold.
He said he will discuss his future course of action with everybody and would not like to comment on it now. He also declined to comment when asked whether he would look for other party options.