Suspended from Congress, rebel candidate Lalit Nagar says 'not bothered'

The Congress has suspended the membership of Lalit Nagar, a former MLA from the Tigaon Assembly segment, for contesting as an Independent candidate against the official party candidate from the seat.

This is the first suspension, though another former MLA Sharda Rathore is also contesting as a rebel candidate from the Ballabhgarh Assembly constituency after denial of ticket by the party.

Lalit Nagar, who represented Tigaon, was elected MLA on Congress ticket in 2014. He lost to Rajesh Nagar of the BJP in the 2019 elections. This time, after he failed to get the ticket, he announced that he would contest as an Independent.

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 close to senior party leader Bhupinder Hooda, Nagar has avoided criticism of the Congress and is banking mainly on the alleged failures of the BJP candidate on development issues.

"We have received multiple reports of Congress workers and candidate from the Tigaon seat regarding your involvement in activities contrary to party interest, specifically your participation as Independent candidate against the Congress candidate constitutes 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 AICC general secretary.

Nagar, when contacted, said while he had not received any letter so far, he was not worried about any action.