Rajnath suspends anti-Modi MLAs after cross-voting

NEW DELHI: The BJP, which had called for conscience vote in presidential elections, on Monday suspended five of its Gujarat MLAs who are suspected to have cross-voted in favour of UPA-Left candidate Pratibha Patil.

BJP chief Rajnath Singh ordered suspension of party MLAs Dhirubhai Gajera, one of the most vocal in criticising Modi ahead of the presidential election, Gordhan Jhadaphia, Balubhai Tanti, Becharbhai Bhadani and Bavkubhai Undhad.

"Our message is loud and clear -- indiscipline will not be tolerated," party spokesman Prakash Javadekar, who denied the suspension was linked to cross-voting in the July 19 election, told here.

But the BJP cracked the whip on the detractors of chief minister Narendra Modi barely two days after results of the presidential election showed rebels in the Gujarat BJP camp had voted in favour of Patil.

In her last news conference as spokesperson for NDA-backed candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, whose party leader L K Advani had called for a conscience vote in the presidential election, indicated that taking action could be difficult against anybody for voting in favour of Patil.