India, Feb. 4 -- The Maharashtra Congress on Tuesday suspended Ejaz Beg, the party's Malegaon city president, for forming a front with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Malegaon Municipal Corporation.

Beg has also been asked to submit an explanation for his actions. Party leaders said the move embarrassed the Congress, which has been staunchly opposing the BJP.

"Your decision to form a group along with BJP violates the discipline of the party," said an order issued by Ganesh Patil, senior vice-president of the Maharashtra Congress. "Following orders from the state leadership, you are being removed from the post of city president and suspended from the party until further notice."

Beg has been asked to submit his clarification wit...