New Delhi, Mar 03: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has summoned rural development minister Shanta Kumar tomorrow to seek an explanation for his comments on Himachal Pradesh government, party sources said here. Vajpayee, who spoke to Kumar over telephone today, has also sought an explanation from the minister having taken strong exception to his remarks at the meeting of BJP Central office bearers here yesterday. Kumar is also likely to meet deputy prime minister L K Advani for a detailed discussion on the issue, the sources said.

Vajpayee told office-bearers that "the people were angry with us and this was evident from the kind of response to the election meetings in the state. Had we fought unitedly the results would have been different."

He took strong exception to the remarks by Shanta Kumar that people are angry and unhappy with the performance of the state government under BJP and party president M Venkaiah Naidu has sought an explanation from him.

Bureau Report