Overview

• Former Jwalapur MLA Suresh Rathore was expelled for six years after party leaders deemed his explanation to a June 23 show-cause notice unsatisfactory
• The disciplinary action follows a viral video showing Rathore with actress Urmila Sanawar, whom he first presented as his second wife before later claiming the footage was from a film
• BJP officials cited violations of Uttarakhand’s Uniform Civil Code, which criminalizes polygamy, and breaches of party discipline and social norms
• The Congress has accused the BJP of selective enforcement of the civil code and is pressing state authorities to initiate legal proceedings against Rathore
• The case highlights the challenges of applying personal law reforms to political figures and raises questions about consistency in holding leaders to account