Uttarakhand BJP crisis far from over,Core group takes up issue

The crisis in Uttarakhand BJP on Monday appeared to be far from over as top leaders of the party's Core Group

The crisis in Uttarakhand BJP on Monday appeared to be far from over as top leaders of the party’s Core Group are understood to have discussed the issue of replacing Chief Minister B C Khanduri,just days after it seemed to have decided to maintain status quo in the state.

BJP Core Group consisting of party president Rajnath Singh,Sushma Swaraj,M Venkaiah Naidu and Ram Lal Agarwal met at the residence of senior leader L K Advani.

Party spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said “there was no further development on the (Uttarakhand) issue”. However,he refused to say whether leadership change in the state was discussed or not. Rudy ruled out any “dramatic news” on the issue.

Though the party maintained that the decisions taken at the just-concluded two-day National Executive were discussed,sources said the change of chief minister in Uttarakhand also came up for discussion.

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Asked about Khanduri’s fate,Rajnath Singh said after the meeting “if any decision is taken,you will be informed”. He added that today’s meeting had been scheduled four-five days back and was held to discuss the decisions

taken at the National Executive.

Khanduri,who was to leave for Dehradun on Sunday soon after National Executive meeting,is still camping in Delhi.

Dissident leader B S Koshiyari,who has been gunning for Khanduri’s removal,had resigned from Rajya Sabha membership on Wednesday,sending ripples in the party. He,however,took it back on Friday last following a party directive.

Sources claimed Prakash Pant,state Minister for Tourism and Parliamentary Affairs,could be a front runner in case the party decides to replace Khanduri.

Pant,a two-time MLA,has an image of a “non-controversial” leader and may be acceptable to both Khanduri and his bete-noire Koshiyari.

First published on: 22-06-2009 at 05:11:00 pm