Patna, Aug. 18: A day after his suspension from the party, senior Janata Dal (United) MLA Chhedi Paswan today blasted the party leadership for acting in an arbitrary manner, “ignoring all principles of democratic debate for which socialists have always been known”.

The action against Paswan, reportedly taken on the directives of JD(U) national president Sharad Yadav, is the first case of the ruling party acting against a legislator on grounds of violating party discipline.

Paswan, a Dalit leader who joined the party after leaving the Rashtriya Janata Dal last year, is alleged to have made strong statements against state JD(U) chief Lallan Singh and parliamentary board leader Prabhunath Singh.

Served a showcause notice, Paswan had tendered an explanation but the JD(U) leadership did not find it satisfactory and suspended him from the party’s primary membership. He, however, continues to be an MLA.

“My so-called damaging statements were in response to Lallan Singh and Prabhunath Singh publicly belittling party veteran George Fernandes. While no action has been taken against them, I have been suspended from the party. For 15 years, George Fernandes taught Nitish Kumar and others the basics of politics but the same people humiliated him,” Paswan, a former minister, told The Telegraph from his constituency in Sasaram.

Another prominent Dal(U) legislator, Sunil Pandey, had made “damaging” statements against the party and the chief minister but the leadership is yet to act against him.

The statements attributed to Paswan came after Pandey, in an inebriated state, created a ruckus at a hotel here and his actions were also shown on television.

State JD(U) general secretary Upendra Kushwaha said the action against Paswan was taken by the central leadership because he had spoken out against an MP (Prabhunath Singh). “Sunil Pandey’s case is under consideration,” Kushwaha said.

Paswan came down heavily on Lallan Singh and said no action was taken against him even after notorious criminal Ashok Mahto talked about his complicity in the murder of senior Congress leader Rajo Singh.

“Far from it, Ashok Mahto was silenced, beaten up and publicly garlanded with shoes and slippers. Rajo Singh’s daughter-in-law also charged Lallan Singh but no action was taken against him,” Paswan said.

“Nitish Kumar should understand that I have committed no mistake. Socialists often came to blows during democratic debates and the party takes such a decision when I make a democratic statement. This is the reward (I get) for my sacrifices for the party,” the Dal(U) legislator said.

Paswan challenged the suspension on technical grounds as well.

“The party does not have an expulsion committee. So the action against me clearly violates the party constitution. Sharad Yadav is not my mentor in the JD(U). He is a weak leader from Madhya Pradesh and cannot even make one MLA win an election,” he added.