Two days after former chief minister of Maharashtra A R Antulay said that he would support Opposition candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress has initiated a disciplinary action against the senior leader.
Mr Antulay also upset the party leadership by saying that the Congress was a "party of ungrateful people."
“We have sent a detailed report of his statements to the central leadership. Disciplinary action will be taken soon,” said Manikrao Thakare, president, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, on Monday.
Mr. Antulay, the only Muslim chief minister of Maharashtra, has represented the Raigad Lok Sabha constituency in the past for four terms. He was unhappy after the Congress swapped the seat with its ally, the Nationalist Congress Party without even consulting him.
“They (the Peasants and Workers Party candidates) came to meet me and I have blessed them. I have appealed to people to vote them,” Mr. Antulay, who has also served as Union Minister for Minority Affairs. The PWP is contesting the Raigad and Maval seats. The Congress party's ally, the NCP will be contesting these.
Mr. Thakare said strict action will be taken against those party members who will work against the party or its ally in Maharashtra. He, however, clarified that no action can be taken until the state unit gets a green signal from the centre.
