Close X
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
ADVT 
India

Congress suspends Kerala leader calling Rahul a 'joker'

Darpan News Desk IANS, 29 May, 2014 10:57 AM
    Senior Congress leader T.H.Mustafa, who called Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi a "joker" and demanded he quit party posts, has been suspended from the party, a party leader said Thursday.
     
    Addressing reporters, after the marathon 10 hours discussion of the executive of the state party unit to analyse the results of the Lok Sabha elections, Congress' Kerala unit president V.M. Sudheeran said the decision was unanimous.
     
    "He made this remark openly, yesterday (Wednesday), when he was invited to take part in today's executive. The term he used 'joker' on Gandhi was extremely unbecoming on Mustafa's part and we decided to suspend him with immediate effect," said Sudheeran.
     
    The 72-year-old Mustafa, a former minister and a five time legislator, was unfazed.
     
    "I welcome the decision to suspend me. Look where the Congress party is now and Rahul Gandhi was the person who was spearheading the campaign and hence he has the responsibility. I did also mention that Priyanka Gandhi should take over as the new president," he said.
     
    Even though Mustafa was suspended, the day-long deliberations saw many leaders expressing their dissent against the national leadership of the party especially the conduct of some Congress ministers in the Manmohan Singh government and top leadership remaining a mute spectator. 
     
    "All what you have heard on the television since our meeting began today is not true. Yes, the resolution that was passed at the end of the deliberations mentions that certain actions of the UPA government taken at the fag end did upset the people," said Sudheeran. 
     
    The Congress-led United Democratic Front which had 16 seats in the 2009 Lok Sabha saw its tally come down to 12 in the 2014 polls. 
     
    The meeting Thursday also decided to appoint separate committees to find out how the party lost seats like Thrissur, Chalakudy, Palakkad, Alathur and Idukki. 
     
    "These committees have been asked to submit their reports at the earliest. You wait and see , on what the action would be there, once the report comes," added Sudheeran. 

    MORE India ARTICLES

    'Dynasty' crumbles in young India's loud yearning for change

    'Dynasty' crumbles in young India's loud yearning for change
    Fifty years after the death of India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, which had been instrumental in shaping most of modern India's socio-economic and political fortunes and had commanded unswerving loyalty from the electorate in the past, is seemingly no longer the "natural choice" for the country's young population.

    'Dynasty' crumbles in young India's loud yearning for change

    Manmohan Singh moves to 3, Motilal Nehru Marg

    Manmohan Singh moves to 3, Motilal Nehru Marg
    Former prime minister Manmohan Singh shifted to his new residence - 3 Motilal Nehru Marg - after attending the oath taking ceremony of his successor Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan Monday evening.

    Manmohan Singh moves to 3, Motilal Nehru Marg

    AAP congratulates Modi

    AAP congratulates Modi
    The Aam Aadmi Party Monday congratulated Narendra Modi on becoming India's 14th prime minister and asked him to live up to people's expectations.

    AAP congratulates Modi

    Narendra Modi sworn in as 15th Prime Minister, promises 'strong and inclusive India'

    Narendra Modi sworn in as 15th Prime Minister, promises 'strong and inclusive India'
    With the setting sun forming a magnificent backdrop, India got a new prime minister Monday as Narendrabhai Damodardas Modi, 63, took oath Monday in a 90-minute, open-air, business-like ceremony in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace, attended by leaders of eight neighbouring countries.

    Narendra Modi sworn in as 15th Prime Minister, promises 'strong and inclusive India'

    Nawaz Sharif's India visit: Sand artist creates image on peace

    Nawaz Sharif's India visit: Sand artist creates image on peace
    Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik Sunday created a sand sculpture on peace in Odisha ahead of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's visit to India.

    Nawaz Sharif's India visit: Sand artist creates image on peace

    It's official: Modi to merge ministries, Small, compact Cabinet shaping up

    It's official: Modi to merge ministries, Small, compact Cabinet shaping up
    A small and compact cabinet under Narendra Modi appeared to be taking final shape Sunday, with BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, and Sushma Swaraj likely to get the top posts, according to party sources.

    It's official: Modi to merge ministries, Small, compact Cabinet shaping up