Central member of Nepali Congress (NC) Shekhar Koirala has opposed expulsion of three leaders including former joint general secretary Govinda Raj Joshi from the party.
A meeting of the party's disciplinary committee on Saturday has punished Joshi of Tanahu, Pushkar Nath Ojha of Kailali and Ram Bahadur Bista of Dadeldhura stripping them of even general membership.
Koirala, a prospective candidate for party presidency in the next general convention, has claimed that Joshi and others have been punished on baseless and imaginary arguments and called their expulsion unfortunate.
"We usher in people from other parties on the one hand and then expel senior leaders who have given their whole life to the party on the other. What message does that send to the party and cadres?" Koirala has asked in a Facebook post on Sunday. "Expulsion of Govinda Ra Joshi, Pushkar Nath Ojha and Ram Bahadur Bista giving baseless and imaginary arguments is unfortunate. The blood and sweat they have shed for the party and democracy has been belittled."
Joshi was accused of playing a role in loss of NC Senior Leader Ram Chandra Paudel in the last general election. Joshi had filed nomination from Paudel's constituency but his candidacy was revoked. He was accused of playing a role in CPN's Kisan Shrestha's victory over Paudel.
Similarly, mahasamiti member and former minister of state Ojha was accused of playing a role in loss of Aarzoo Deuba in Kailali during the general election .
The discipline committee has expelled Joshi and Ojha from the party for five years.
Bista, who is secretary of the district committee in NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba's home district, has been expelled for three years.
The committee headed by Bhishma Raj Angdembe had sought explanation from the three on March 2. It has now punished them stating that their explanation was not satisfactory.
The five-strong committee also has received complaints against top leaders including Deuba accusing them of indiscipline.
