Cong expels 2 corporators for flouting party whip

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : The Congress has expelled two corporators namely Kavitha Sanil, the town planning standing committee president and James D’Souza, for going against the party whip during the election to the standing committee of the city corporation, held recently.
In fact Kavitha Sanil had contested for the town planning standing commtitee presidentship against the official Congress candidate, and had emerged victorious securing the votes of the BJP members and also the Congress corporator James D’Souza.
The expulsion order was issued by the DCC chief Blasius D’Souza as per the directive of the KPCC chief Mallikarjun Kharge.
In the meantime, political observors feel the chances of these two corporators losing their corporatorship are also high in case the district committee of the party moves the deputy commissioner seeking disqualification from membrship as per the Anti-Defection Act.
On the other hand, the party high command decision has come in for criticism within the party itself with some corporators contending that such decisions only gave scope for groupism.
The main reason for the wrath of these corporators is the party’s failure to take any action agaisnt S Appi, the erstwhile standing committee on health president who was elected for the post, after she contested by violating the party whip. Similarly, no action had also followed against corporators Nagaveni and Gilbert Pinto who had then backed Appi.

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  Expulsion unconstitutional?
  In the meantime, some veteran Congressmen as well some legal experts have opined that the expulsion of two corporators from the Congress was undemocratice and a clear-cut case of misuse of power.
  Experts are of the view that there is also no scope for cancellation of their membership. Reports say the two corporators and their bandwagon are lilely to complain to the party high-command in Delhi thus to create embarrassing moments for the state leadership.
  It may be mentioned here that politics ruled roost in the election to the post of the town planning committee presidentshop which is the highest yielding post next only to the post of mayor. This time however, the tussle took place publicly.