Himachal Congress MLA accused of murdering dalit woman suspended

Shimla : Hours after taking over as the Himachal Pradesh Congress president , Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday suspended the newly elected legislator Ram Kumar Chaudhary from the party.

“Newly elected MLA from Doon , Ram Kumar Chaudhary is immediately suspended from the party. He has also been removed from the post of general secretary ,”Sukhu told reporters here .

“The party has a policy of zero tolerance to crime against women,” the party president said in his first conference after taking over his new job .

Chaudhary was underground for weeks after a police hunt was launched to nab him in connection with the killing of a 24 year old woman in Haryana’s Panchkula town .

Chaudhary recently surrendered to the Haryana police . If he doesn’t take oath within 60 days of his election a re-election could be ordered in the Doon seat , experts say .

The ruling Congress has been facing criticism for not taking a stand against the tainted MLA .

In a house of 68 , the Congress has 36 seats , the BJP 26 .