BHOPAL: Hurt by denial of party ticket to son Nitin Chaturvedi for the November 28 assembly elections, former Rajya Sabha member and senior Congress leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi is in a rebellious mood.
Chaturvedi, the powerful Brahmin leader in Bundelkhand region has dared the Congress's high command to expel him from the party for campaigning for Samajwadi Party candidates, including son Nitin from Rajnagar assembly seat of Chhatarpur district.
"Since my son is contesting as an SP candidate, I'll continue to share the stage with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. I'll continue to campaign for my son and other SP candidates," said Chaturvedi in Chhatarpur on Saturday.
He also expressed surprise as to why he was included by Congress among the star campaigners in the state.
"Ask them (Congress top brass) to remove me from the party, they don't have the courage to do so,-" said Chaturvedi throwing an open challenge to top leaders of the principal opposition party.
When asked by local journalists about the possibility of him quitting the Congress or him campaigning for the party candidates at the behest of central Congress leadership, Chaturvedi said, "why shall I resign, I won't resign. Who are they (Congress top brass) to direct me to campaign for their party candidates, when I'm already campaigning for SP candidates, including my son."
"Before even thinking of directing me to campaign for party candidates, the party and its top leaders should introspect about what they have done," a visibly upset Chaturvedi said.
Importantly, Chaturvedi's son Nitin has been among probable for Congress ticket from seats of Chhatarpur district, particularly Rajnagar seat since 2013. But he was denied ticket not only from Rajnagar but wasn't even considered for any other seats of Chhatarpur district this time also.
Subsequently, Nitin Chaturvedi is in the fray as SP candidate from Rajnagar seat against three-time sitting Congress MLA Kunwar Vikram Singh (Nati Raja).
The Congress, however, has fielded Satyavrat Chaturvedi's brother Alok Chaturvedi from Chhatarpur seat.
With the senior Congress leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi speaking openly in rebellious tones, it remains to be seen what action the party initiates against him in the coming days.
The party has already expelled 19 leaders for contesting against its official candidates in the coming assembly poll.