The Communist Party of India (CPI) today expelled Bibhu Prasad Tarai, the lone Member of Parliament representing the party from the state.
Tarai, the Lok Sabha MP from Jagatsinghpur was expelled for anti-party activities, sources said.
The seat is reserved for the SC (schedule caste) category.
Recently, the party had re-nominated him for the constituency where the polls will be conducted on April 17. He was elected to Lok Sabha in 2009 when CPI had alliance with the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD). With the expulsion of Tarai, speculations are rife that he may join BJD and contest the election with a BJD ticket from Jagatsinghpur where the Rs 52,000 crore Posco steel plant is coming up.
Earlier CPI MLA from Chhatrapur, Adikanda Sethi was suspended from the party for violating party discipline. Sethi was allegedly trying for a BJD ticket in the ensuing assembly elections. After expulsion from the party, Sethi has joined the BJD.
