BSP state president expelled

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The months since the 2011 Assembly elections have proved tumultuous for small-time Kerala units of big North Indian parties, thanks to shoddy electoral performance and consequent infighting.In the latest instance, Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has kicked out its Kerala unit president and resolved to announce a fresh set of office-bearers. BSP national general secretary and Kerala coordinator Dr Suresh Mane issued a statement elevating the party’s Kerala vice-president Prahladan as the state president.BSP’s electoral performance in the Assembly elections in 2011 had been poor compared to the previous occasion. Although no surprises were expected from the BSP which contested in 122 seats, it cornered only 1.04 lakh votes, a mere 0.60 percent of the total vote share.At a June 4 review meeting, party state president Saji Cheraman resigned, but was allowed to continue as an ordinary party member."But instead of getting involved in reorganising and strengthening the party, despite several warnings, he was getting engaged in acts of groupism, indiscipline and several anti-party activities. Therefore, under the instruction of central leadership and in the interests of the party in the state, Saji K Cheraman and one U P Anil Kumar, party worker from Thiruvananthapuram, have been expelled from the party,’’ Mane said in his letter, according to a statement issued by BSP Kerala vice-president J Sudhakaran.When contacted, Saji Cheraman said he had received no official intimation regarding his expulsion. He also denied that he was engaged in any anti-party activity.Following the elections in May, the Kerala unit of Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) also had thrown out members of a splinter group.