New Delhi, January 9
Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal and his son Kuldeep Bishnoi, who have raised a banner of revolt against the Congress leadership, face disqualification from the Assembly and Lok Sabha, respectively.

Although this has been on the cards since the father-son duo announced formation of a separate party, a formal decision was taken tonight at a meeting of the AICC’s Disciplinary Action Committee, headed by defence minister A.K.Antony.

The party has already petitioned the Haryana Speaker seeking disqualification of Bhajan Lal and two other legislators I.D.Kamboj and Dharampal Malik for joining the new party, Haryana Janhit Congress.

In addition, the Congress has also decided to approach Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee to seek the disqualification of suspended party MP Kuldeep Bishnoi, Bhajan Lal’s son, who has launched a blistering attack against the Congress in general and party president Sonia Gandhi in particular. Bhajan Lal has been sulking ever since he was denied the Chief Ministerial post after the last Assembly poll. Both state unit and Margaret Alva, AICC general secretary in-charge of Haryana, had recommended strict disciplinary action against the three MLAs and Kuldeep Bishnoi. "The three leaders face charges of anti-party activities and talking against the Central leadership," Mukherjee said after the meeting.

The party, which deliberated on this issue at two meetings, decided to seek disqualification of the father-son duo instead of expulsion as that will enable them to retain their respective sets in the Assembly and the Lok Sabha. Since the two have formed a separate political party, there was general consensus in the Congress that it has a strong case to seek their disqualification.