The Congress on Tuesday suspended its senior leader Sanjay Jha for “anti-party activities” and “breach of discipline”. The move comes after the disgruntled leader from Maharashtra issued statements supporting Sachin Pilot in the ongoing power tussle in the party's Rajasthan unit.
“Shri. Sanjay Jha has been suspended from the congress Party with immediate effect for anti-party activities and breach of discipline,” said a statement issued by Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee.
Jha was earlier removed as party's spokesperson on June 17, days after he wrote a newspaper article critical of the party.
On Tuesday, shortly after Pilot was removed from the post of Rajasthan deputy chief minister and state Congress chief, Jha tweeted: "First, Jyotiraditya Scindia. Now, Sachin Pilot. Who next? Watch this space!"
First, Jyotiraditya Scindia.
— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) July 14, 2020
Now, Sachin Pilot.
Who next?
Watch this space!
In another tweet, he took a sarcastic jibe at the Congress and said: “For five years Sachin Pilot gave his blood, tears, toil and sweat for the Congress party between 2013-18. The Congress came back from a wretched 21 seats to 100. We just gave him a performance bonus. We are so meritocratic. We are so transparent.”
For five years Sachin Pilot gave his blood , tears, toil and sweat for the Congress party between 2013-18. The Congress came back from a wretched 21 seats to 100.
— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) July 14, 2020
We just gave him a performance bonus. We are so meritocratic. We are so transparent.
Earlier in the day, Jha had suggested that Pilot be made the chief minister of Rajasthan and Ashok Gehlot be given a senior organisational role to revive weak states. He had also posted several other tweets through Monday and Tuesday, supporting Pilot.
Though the Congress seems to have the numbers for now to hang on to power in Rajasthan, the latest developments have deepened the crisis in the party which has lost two major states Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh over the past year.
