SP legislators close to Amar Singh rebel against party

Lucknow, Feb 6 (IANS) Four suspended Samajwadi Party (SP) legislators, known for their proximity to ousted leader Amar Singh, Saturday challenged the party's high command to expel them.

"We have openly voiced support for Jayaprada and Amar Singh.... Both of them have been expelled, but the same action was not taken against us,"  legislator Sandeep Agarwal told reporters at his Moradabad constituency, around 250 km from Lucknow.

"It seems that the party fears taking action against us. I, on behalf of three of my other colleagues, ask the party to take the same action against us that was taken against two of our leaders," he added.

Singh and Jayaprada were expelled from the primary membership of the party Feb 2 while four legislators -- Ashok Singh Chandel, Sarvesh Kumar Singh, Madan Chauhan and Agarwal -- were suspended from the membership of the party. It was announced that further action would be taken against the four after an investigation.

"There is no need for carrying out the investigation. If Jayaji (Jayaprada) has been expelled for speaking in favour of Amar Singh at a press conference, we also deserve the same punishment as we had shared the same dais along with her," Agarwal said.

He said that there was no question of "re-thinking" their stand and claimed that more partymen would join them in the coming days.