3 Jul 2009, 1011 hrs IST

India News: Dehra Dun, India: Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati has expelled a party leader in Uttarakhand within three months of his joining the outfit, for challenging her move to erect a series of statues in Uttar Pradesh, party sources said on Friday.

According to party sources, BSP leader and party candidate from the Tehri Lok Sabha seat in 2009 Lok Sabha polls Munna Singh Chauhan was expelled from the party within three months of joining the party.

Speaking to PTI, state BSP president Meghraj Singh said, "Chauhan was expelled after he wrote a letter to Mayawati suggesting that she should desist from erecting statutes and focus more on the welfare of dalits."

Singh also claimed that Chauhan had not been attending meetings of the party during the past one month and added, "The party late last night expelled Chauhan."

The expulsion of Chauhan came close on the heels of the by-elections in Vikasnagar, which are due shortly as the seat fell vacant after his resignation from BJP.

Chauhan, who was not available for comments, had joined BSP only three months ago after resigning from the assembly seat of Vikasnagar, from where he was elected on a BJP ticket 2007 assembly elections.

Later, he unsuccessfully contested from Tehri Lok Sabha seat on BSP ticket and was defeated by the Congress candidate.