Congress rebel from Tigaon Lalit Nagar suspended from party for 6 years

The Congress has suspended the membership of Lalit Nagar, a former MLA from Tigaon Assembly segment, for contesting as Independent candidate against the official candidate of the party from the seat, it is reported. This is the first suspension in the region as two former MLAs, including Nagar and Sharda Rathore, have been contesting as rebel candidates from the Tigaon and Ballabgarh Assembly constituencies after the denial of the ticket by the party this time.

Lalit Nagar, who represented the Tigaon Assembly segment, had been elected as MLA on the Congress ticket in 2014 for the first time. He had, however, lost to Rajesh Nagar of the BJP in 2019 elections while he had been fielded on the Congress party ticket for the second time. This time as he failed to get nominated as party candidate, he announced to contest as an Independent candidate after holding consultations with his supporters. Claiming that he had been a victim of injustice, he said he had a stronghold in the segment and would be able to win even as an Independent.

Considered very close to former CM and senior party leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Lalit Nagar has been banking mainly on the alleged failures of the BJP candidate on development issues, during the latter’s five-year tenure as the MLA. Lalit had expressed his anger and resentment by getting emotional after the announcement of ticket to one Rohit Nagar from this segment.

“We have received multiple reports from Congress workers and the candidate from the Tigaon seat regarding your involvement in activities contrary to party’s interests, specifically your participation as Independent candidate against the Congress candidate, which is a violation of the party policy and reviewing the evidence, we are compelled to take action by suspending your membership for a period of six years due to these anti-party activities,’’ says the letter issued by the General Secretary, AICC, dated September 26.

Lalit Nagar, when contacted, said while he had not received any letter so far, he was not worried about any action. He said he was going to win the election from Tigaon with a good margin this time.