From correspondents in Maharashtra, India, 09:01 PM IST

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Monday expelled Col. Sudhir Sawant, a senior leader from Konkan region, from the party for five years on charges of indiscipline and anti-party activities.

Announcing this here, BSP national general secretary Vir Singh, who is in charge of Maharashtra, said that Sawant did not develop contacts with the people at the grassroots.

State BSP chief Vilas Garud said that despite being warned many times, Sawant continued to 'behave like a Congressman'.

A former MP, Sawant quit the Congress to join the Maharashtra BSP in January.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)