SUSPENDED Congress of the People's elections head Simon Grindrod wants the party to take disciplinary action against him or face a legal battle.

SUSPENDED Congress of the People's elections head Simon Grindrod wants the party to take disciplinary action against him or face a legal battle.

Grindrod told Sowetan that if Cope did not charge him and set up an open inquiry within 72 hours, he would take legal action against the party. Cope suspended him three weeks ago after an internal discussion document he authored - speaking of chaos and disorganisation in the party - was leaked to the media.

Cope subsequently gagged him from speaking to the media. This, Grindrod says, is an infringement of his constitutional rights. He accuses the Cope leadership of hypocrisy and demands that the party convene a disciplinary inquiry which he wants opened to the media.

Grindrod, who is said to be a supporter of Mosiuoa Lekota, yesterday sent a letter to Cope general secretary Charlotte Lobe demanding to know what he was being charged with.

Grindrod says his suspension is a "direct contradiction of the public statement that healthy and robust debate will be encouraged within the party.

"Anyone who dares to raise concerns faces the prospect of indefinite suspension without a fair and proper hearing. I remind you that many Cope leaders, including yourself, abandoned the ANC citing abuse of the exact same processes," he said.

Cope spokesperson Phillip Dexter said yesterday: "Simon must do whatever he wants to do but he must understand and accept the consequences of his actions."