Congress has suspended Shakeel Ahmed, an ex-MP, from the party for contesting as an Independent candidate from Bihar’s Madhubani Lok Sabha seat. Along with him, Bhavana Jha, MLA from the Benipatti town in Bihar, has also been suspended from the party for ‘anti-party activities’ in respect to the ongoing 17th General Elections.
In the press release by All India Congress Committee on 5 May 2019, the party has explicitly stated, “Mr Shakeel Ahmed, ex MP, has been suspended, with immediate effect, from the Congress Party for contesting as an Independent candidate from the Madhubani Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar against the party’s decision.”
Earlier, on 15 April Shakeel Ahmed has said that he was unhappy after his traditional seat of Madhubani went to ally, Mukesh Sahni's Party VIP, under a seat sharing formula of the grand alliance.
In conversation with the media at his residence in Madhubani, he said, "I have demanded the support of the party. If the party high command does not extend support, I will contest as an Independent."
(With inputs from ANI)
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