BJP declares Bhopal bandh

Joshi, who along with three others began the hunger strike outside Digvijay Singh8217;s residence, told that his party would announce its future action plan on Saturday if its demand to nullify election of the BMC chairman was not met.

The other demands were removal of District Collector S K Vashisht for asking police to beat up8217; party corporators inside the hall, besides prosecuting the police officials responsible for beating up the corporators including women.

8220;So far, none of the state ministers had approached us and we shall intensify our agitation from Saturday,8221; he added.

Meanwhile, the minister-in-charge of Bhopal, Arif Aqueel, paraded Congress corporators at his residence saying that all that happened on Thursday was because of the adamant stand of the BJP, which was reluctant to accept its defeat8217; for the corporation chairman8217;s post.

He said the district administration would deal sternly with those who try to disturb peace in the State capital on Saturday during the bandh called by the BJP.

Union Minister Uma Bharti, who is also Lok Sabha member from Bhopal, visited the government hospital where 12 corporators were undergoing treatment. She said she would submit a report to Home Minister L K Advani on the breakdown8217; of law and order in MP.

BJP alleged in a statement that the district collector, who was the returning officer for Thursday8217;s election, deliberately followed an unconstitutional procedure for the election8217;.

BJP demanded a high-level probe into the acts of the collector who, the party alleged, also allowed non-members of the House to be present at voting place which included the Minister Arif Aqueel and Rajya Sabha member Suresh Pachauri besides Congress MLA P C Sharma.

Meanwhile, Digvijay Singh said BJP should file a petition and take legal recourse if it was not satisfied with the manner of Thursday8217;s election for the post of BMC chairman.

On BJP demand that the election should be cancelled forthwith, Singh said, 8220;Staging a dharna or calling for a bandh is not the way to get an election cancelled.8221;

On the demand for the removal of Vashisht, Singh said he can be removed only after an inquiry into the incidents. 8220;There is no question of removing the collector just because BJP is demanding it,8221; he said.