The BJP on Saturday suspended its Rajasthan MLA Shobharani Kushwah for cross-voting in favour of Congress candidate Pramod Tiwari in the Rajya Sabha elections for four seats from the State. Ms. Kushwah sprang a surprise by her act, which she said was guided by her “voice of conscience”.
The BJP’s central disciplinary committee issued a notice to Ms. Kushwah, elected from Dholpur constituency in the 2018 Assembly election, asking her to show cause why she should not be expelled from the party’s primary membership. Ms. Kushwah was informed that she had been suspended from the BJP’s membership as well as all other responsibilities until an inquiry was completed.
The show cause notice, signed by central disciplinary committee’s member secretary Om Pathak, stated that Ms. Kushwah displayed “gross indiscipline” by defying the party whip and violated Rule 10-B of Article 25 of the BJP’s constitution and rules. The MLA was given seven days’ time to explain her conduct.
