AAP expels rebel legislator Binny

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Sunday expelled rebel legislator Vinod Kumar Binny, who has been criticising the party's Delhi government.

A party statement said the decision was taken by a disciplinary committee set up after Binny went to press with complaints against the Arvind Kejriwal government.

"This disciplinary committee has decided to expel Vinod Kumar Binny and terminate his primary membership from the party, for publicly making false statements against the party and its leadership, thereby bringing disrepute to the party," it said.

Binny, who defeated A.K. Walia, the health minister in the Sheila Dikshit government, from the Laxmi Nagar assembly constituency in east Delhi, had attacked his party and the government for allegedly backtracking on the promises made in the election manifesto, including on water and power sectors.

He also threatened to go on a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar Jan 27.

AAP leaders countered his charges saying he was upset about not being given a ministerial berth in Delhi cabinet.

A disciplinary committee was formed by AAP on Jan 19, headed by party national secretary Pankaj Gupta.

The other members of the committee included Ashish Talwar, Illyas Azmi, Yogendra Yadav and Gopal Rai.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader V.K. Malhotra meanwhile said Binny would be welcomed if he wants to join the BJP.

"If he (Binny) comes to BJP, we will welcome him," Malhotra told news channel Times Now.