BJP, BJD fix meet over contentious by-poll seat

BHUBANESWAR, May 20: The coordination committee meet between the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been tentati...

BHUBANESWAR, May 20: The coordination committee meet between the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been tentatively fixed on May 22. The meeting is being held to sort out differences over the Bhandaripokhari seat.

The BJD leadership has taken the initiative to convene the coordination committee meet as the prolonged bickering between the allies has sent wrong signals to the rank and file. The BJD leadership has realised that open bickering between the two allies will only benefit the Congress.

However, response from the BJP state unit is not that encouraging. Sources say the BJD is now in a belligerent mood. It has formed a three-member committee comprising of chairman of the party’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC) Bijay Mahapatra, leader of the opposition Ramakrushna Patnaik, and vice-president A U Singhdeo to coordinate with the BJP.

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The PAC of the BJD which met on Sunday decided to take up the matter of fielding Rath Das from Bhandaripokhari with the state leadership.If the state leadership did not relent, the BJD had decided to take up the matter with the central leadership.

The BJD has objected to the propaganda launched by the state BJP that it has hoodwinked its alliance partner on the issue of fielding Rath Das. Talking to The Indian Express, the BJD general secretary Satpathy said the party chief Naveen Patnaik had taken up the issue with Kushabhau Thakre, the BJP President.

Satpathy claimed that the central leadership of the BJP was aware of the situation and had agreed to field Rath Das.

However, sources said that the state BJP leadership would leave no stones unturned to ensure the defeat of BJD candidate at Bhandaripokhari to teach its ally a lesson.

A court in Antwerp passed the order initiating the formal process of bringing Choksi back to India. But, he still has options to challenge the order passed by the lower court.

Belgian court clears fugitive jeweller Mehul Choksi’s extradition to India

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Mehul Choksi, a fugitive diamantaire wanted in India for a Rs 13,000 crore loan fraud case, has been cleared for extradition by a court in Antwerp, Belgium. The Indian government has assured that Choksi will be held in a specific jail complex and provided with basic amenities if extradited. Choksi's extradition proceedings have advanced in Belgium and he has the option to challenge the order.

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