An Embattled Gandhi Expels His Major Rival From Ruling Party

NEW DELHI —  Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, struggling with key Cabinet resignations and allegations of high-level corruption, expelled his major rival from the ruling Congress-I Party on Sunday.

The embattled Indian leader said he ordered Vishwanath Pratap Singh, a former Cabinet minister, expelled for anti-party activities.

Singh, who has held the finance and defense portfolios under Gandhi, denied that he had ever worked against the organization and said, “I am sad at heart to be formally cast off from the party.”

Singh’s fight against government corruption had gained him fame as “Mr. Superclean.” Gandhi himself won the sobriquet “Mr. Clean” in sweeping to an election victory 2 1/2 years ago.

4th to Go in 4 Days

Singh was the fourth prominent party member in four days to be ousted abruptly by Gandhi, who has been besieged by dissent over his abrasive leadership style, government resignations, allegations of corruption and electoral defeats.

G. K. Moopanar, the party’s general secretary, said Singh was expelled for “anti-party activities.” No specifics were given, and there was no hearing.

“I will continue to pursue the issues which I have raised, like checking the growing influence of money and achieving electoral reforms,” Singh told reporters at his luxurious government bungalow.

Singh, 56, who resigned as defense minister April 12, said he was not informed of the charges that triggered his expulsion from the party.

“I have only been implementing party policies against economic offenders and defense agents. I did not expect this action,” he said.

Had Offered to Resign

Singh had offered to resign from the party and the upper house of Parliament on Thursday to protest Gandhi’s “undemocratic” expulsion of three prominent dissidents who the prime minister believed were plotting to undermine his leadership. But Gandhi rejected it, claiming the offer was conditional.

Last week, Gandhi expelled Arun Nehru, the former deputy home minister; Arif Mohammed Khan, the former industry minister, and V.C. Shukla, a veteran party member, all for dissident activities. They have been openly holding meetings to plot anti-Gandhi moves.

A poll published in Sunday magazine indicated that the ruling party and the people are losing faith in Gandhi.

By contrast, hundreds of thousands of people have thronged to Singh’s rallies, at which he has attacked corruption.

Probe of Gandhi Friend

He said Sunday that his only possible “anti-party activity” was to urge Gandhi to investigate alleged illegal holdings in Switzerland by Ajitabh Bachchan, brother of Amitabh Bachchan, India’s top movie idol and Gandhi’s close friend.

Ajitabh Bachchan is alleged to have purchased property in Switzerland and transferred huge amounts of money into Swiss banks.

Singh also ordered investigations into millions of dollars in alleged kickbacks from the purchase of 155-millimeter howitzers from Sweden and three submarines from West Germany.

News reports said the payoffs were received by people close to Gandhi, perhaps filling party coffers. No names were disclosed and the government promised in-house investigations.

Singh resigned as defense chief after party members accused him of undermining the government and working for the American CIA. He said he was only following Gandhi’s directive to fight corruption.

Ordered Tax Raids

As finance minister, Singh triggered relentless tax raids and cracked down on illegal funds kept abroad by Indians.

On Saturday, another Gandhi aide and a friend, Deputy Defense Minister Arun Singh, resigned from the Cabinet without explanation. He is no relation to Vishwanath Pratap Singh.

Another resignation last week was that of Gandhi’s popular Muslim minister of tourism, Mufti Mohammed Sayed.