The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Tejaswini seeks expulsion of Lingappa from Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 19, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Tejaswini seeks expulsion of Lingappa from Congress

Special Correspondent

Party High Command can inquire into the incident, says MP

BANGALORE: Tejaswini Sri Ramesh, Congress MP, has demanded that party president Sonia Gandhi should expel C.M. Lingappa, former party MLA. He, along with his son and supporters, had abused and threatened her, she alleged.

She was speaking to presspersons here on Sunday after a meeting with A.K. Antony, All India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge of party affairs in the State. She said that he had promised her that the party would take action against Mr. Lingappa.

Ms. Tejaswini handed over a copy of a letter addressed to party president Sonia Gandhi to Mr. Antony, who is here on a three-day visit to assess the political situation and strengthen the party at the grassroots level.

"Since the incident happened in full public view, I have gone to the media about it and want immediate suspension of Mr. Lingappa and his men from the party for their crude and unruly behaviour in a drunken state. These men are frustrated, as I have participated as an MP in a few public functions with the Chief Minister," she said in the letter.

In the letter to Ms. Gandhi, a copy of which was released to the press here, she said the party High Command could inquire into the incident and expel Mr Lingappa from the party.

However, Mr Lingappa and his supporters should be immediately suspended, pending inquiry.

Ms. Ramesh had lodged a police complaint in this regard on Saturday.

She sought police protection as Mr. Lingappa had allegedly threatened to attack her.

"Mr. Lingappa was frustrated after his defeat against Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy in the last elections.

"He is jealous and frustrated and he wanted to finish me politically," she said.

"I have no land and no mining business. The party supporters are with me," she added.

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