By IANS
Ahmedabad : The Gujarat unit of the Congress party Monday suspended its legislator Shanker Varli for six years after he attended an official function chaired by Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
Gujarat Congress president Bharat Solanki announced the suspension but gave no reason for the decision.
Varli, the legislator from Vapi in south Gujarat, along with Manish Gilitwala, the Congress legislator from Surat, had last month attended a state government-organised convention on fisheries, where Modi was also present.
The party swiftly served a show-cause notice to both legislators amid speculation that they were joining the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Gilitwala responded to the notice by resigning from the party. But Varli, who apparently developed cold feet, replied to the notice saying he attended the convention as it was organised by the state. He maintained he was very much with the Congress and would abide by the instructions of the high command.
Party sources said Varli pursued his anti-party stance despite his reply.
The Congress had also served a show-cause notice to its Dwarka MLA Pabubha Manek for alleged anti-party activities. He had welcomed Modi at a public function and was said to be actively participating in the BJP activities in his area.