Ranchi: The BJP staked claim to form the
government in Jharkhand after its national President Nitin
Gadkari called up legislature party leader Raghuvar Das last
night from Moscow.
Das told reporters that Gadkari asked him to convene a
meeting of BJP MLAs and pass on the mantle to former Chief
Minister Arjun Munda.
"At 11:30 pm I got a phone call from our party president,
who asked me to call a legislature party meeting today at 9:00
to elect Munda in my place," he said.
Munda had late last night sent a list of 45 MLAs with
their signatures to the national leadership after JMM gave a
signal on September 4 that it would give unconditional support
to whichever party initiated government formation.
He had contacted senior leaders Ananth Kumar, Rajnath
Singh and Venkaiah Naidu for a green signal.
Das gave party leaders some anxious moments as he arrived
three hours late before submitting his resignation as the
legislature party leader.
"The delay indicates that a section of the BJP are not
keen on forming a government and want mid-term polls...but the
party’s direction should be adhered to," said a senior leader.
PTI
Ruling Congress in Manipur divided over MPCC chief
Imphal: The Congress in Manipur was divided
over the issue of electing a 'consensus' president of the
Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on September 17,
party sources said today.
Some senior party leaders including ministers want the
present incumbent Gaikhangam to continue as president but some
young ministers, pradesh congress committee members and
district presidents of the party favour the chairman of the
Manipur Pollution Control board E Dwijamani, the sources said.
They said efforts were within the party to avoid election
but it was not making any headway so far because young members
of the party was sticking to their demand.
"We would like to elect a new popular president by holding
elections to uphold democracy and strengthen the party," some
young district Congress presidents and PCC members said.
Gaikhangam, who has been MPCC president for over five
years, is now in Delhi meeting central leaders to discuss
party affairs and forthcoming party elections in the state,
sources said.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, September 07, 2010, 19:32