Former MLA Shahzad expelled from BSP

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 15

Bahujan Samaj Party on Sunday expelled its senior leader and former MLA Mohammad Shahzad from the party accusing him of working against the    interests of the party.

A formal announcement of Shahzad’s expulsion was made at Haridwar state party office by state BSP general secretary Nathu Singh. He has accused Shahzad of working against the interests of the BSP by hobnobbing with the BJP.

Significantly, the BSP Central leadership had been looking at Mohammad Shahzad with apprehension and participation of top BJP leader and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and his Cabinet minister Madan Kaushik in the wedding ceremony of Shahzad’s son, a day back, triggered the expulsion.

Expressing dismay over his expulsion, Shahzad asserted that he had done nothing against the party interests. He asserted that he had recently re-joined the BSP and as there has been no election of any kind since then than how can he be judged to be working against the party. “Inviting Chief Minister in a family function is a matter of social courtesy and should not be given political meaning”, he observed. He also asserted that he would come before the media on the issue.

The former BSP MLA, Mohammad Shahzad had on June 25 re-joined the BSP. It was for the third time that he was joining the BSP. 

Shahzad was elected as an MLA from the now dissolved Bahadrabad seat in the 2007 Assembly elections. 

He contested the last Assembly elections from Piran Kaliyar constituency as an independent and Alost. 

Shahzad has considerable following among the minorities, particularly in Hardwar district. He has also contested unsuccessfully parliamentary election from Haridwar on the BSP ticket.

Sources reveal that BJP MLA from Hardwar and Cabinet minister Madan Kaushik is instrumental in bringing Mohammad Shahzad, his close friend, to the BJP as Shahzad’s closeness to BJP would play a key role in strengthening party prospects in Hardwar Lok Sabha seat in the 2019 parliamentary elections. 

‘Did nothing against party interest’

• BSP general secretary has accused Mohammad Shahzad (pic) of working against the interests of the BSP by hobnobbing with the BJP.
• Shahzad asserted that he had done nothing against the party interests.
• The former BSP MLA, Mohammad Shahzad, had on June 25 re-joined the BSP. It was for the third time that he was joining the BSP.

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