Senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister of Bihar, Sushil Kumar Modi, on Tuesday demanded disciplinary action be taken against party MP Kirti Azad for what he termed as 'anti-party activities'.

This comes a day after Bihar BJP leaders criticised and condemned statements made by party Azad against senior party leader and finance minister Arun Jaitely.

Modi has demanded action against Azad, a cricketer-turned-politician from Darbhanga. He is the son of former Bihar chief minister Bhagwat Jha Azad.

Sushil Modi who was the main contender for the post of chief minister from the BJP in the Bihar assembly polls last month, said the party should act against Azad.

Eartlier, the state BJP president Mangal Pandey said that Azad should not make such remarks against Jaitley. "This kind of statement against party colleagues must be discouraged as it damages the party's image," he said.

Pandey said that the central leadership of the party has been keeping close watch on Azad's statements against Jaitely since only the central leadership is authorised to take action in this case.

Media reports quoting BJP sources said that Azad would be served with a show cause notice after parliamentary session ends tomorrow. He will be suspended for anti party activity and is accused of acting in cohorts with opposition leaders and publicly embarrassing Jaitley.

-- MI Khan, Patna/Rediff.com