Days Before Rajasthan Bypoll, Congress Suspends Rebel Leader Naresh Meena

Seven Assembly seats in Rajasthan will hold by-polls next week - Jhunjhunu, Dausa, Khinvsar, Chaurasi, Salumbar, Ramgarh, and Deoli-Uniara.

The Congress on Thursday suspended rebel Rajasthan leader Naresh Meena over a dispute about the party's nominee for next week's Deoli-Uniara Assembly by-poll. The party's state in-charge, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, issued an order to that effect Thursday.

Naresh Meena wanted to contest the seat but the party opted to field Kastor Chand Meena.

A disgruntled Naresh Meena then announced he would stand as an independent candidate with support from the Bharat Adivasi Party, triggering talk of the community votes being split.