File Photo: Dharamvira Gandhi, Lok Sabha MP from Patiala
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today suspended two of its MPs - Dharamvira Gandhi, who had supported expelled leader Yogendra Yadav, and Harinder Singh Khalsa - for anti-party activities and alleged that they had joined hands with ruling BJP-SAD combine in Punjab.
The decision was taken at the party's Political Affairs Committee (PAC) in which Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal participated through phone from Haridwar.
AAP had won four seats in Punjab in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Dharamvira Gandhi was elected from Patiala LS seat while Mr Khalsa won from Fatehgarh Sahib constituency.
The two MPs were charged with "damaging the prospects" of AAP in Punjab and the case has now been referred to the three-member National Disciplinary Committee comprising party's national secretary Pankaj Gupta, Delhi unit convener Dilip Pandey and spokesperson Deepak Bajpail, the AAP said.
The party tweeted:
"The two MPs have been suspended and not sacked. This means they have to follow the party's whip in Lok Sabha," said a senior AAP leader and threatened that they will be liable for disqualification if they do not follow the whip.
Sources said the party leadership was unhappy with the duo for holding a parallel conference at Baba Bakala near Amritsar today on the occasion of Rakhar Puniya (rakhi) festival.
Two stalls were set up at the venue of the festival - one by state convener Sucha Singh Chotepur and another by Mr Gandhi and Mr Khalsa.
"They used pictures of National Convener Arvind Kejriwal and party MPs Bhagwant Mann and Sadhu Singh to create confusion and help Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP.
"They used party symbol and pictures of party leaders in the publicity material of their conference without due permission from the party," the party said.
Mr Gandhi is considered close to expelled AAP leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan.
"Taking cognizance of their anti-party activities and indiscipline, the PAC has decided to refer their case to the National Disciplinary Action Committee for suitable action against them. The PAC also unanimously resolves to suspend Mr. Dharamvira Ghandhi and Mr. Harinder Singh Khala from the primary membership of the party," the party added.
When contacted, the Patiala MP said he was not aware of the action taken against him.