BJP flags self in, steps on gas

Armed with internal feedback that power is within reach in Chhattisgarh, the BJP has resolved to give an additional push to its election cam...

Armed with internal feedback that power is within reach in Chhattisgarh, the BJP has resolved to give an additional push to its election campaign in the state and tone up its poll-management.

In this connection, party chief M. Venkaiah Naidu held two mid-campaign review meetings with his senior colleagues here today. Apart from Naidu and general secretary Pramod Mahajan, vice-president Bal Apte, general secretary Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and spokesman Prakash Javadekar were also present at the meetings.

Sources said the leadership has decided to go the whole hog in Chhattisgarh because internal reports place the party near the half-way mark in the 90-member Assembly. The NCP candidates, led by former Union minister V.C. Shukla, appear to be in a winning position in five constituencies. This, according to the assessment, leaves the Congress tally around 40.

Since the Congress prospects hinge on Jogi, the party is out to discredit him to the hilt. The BJP high command has directed three tribal leaders — Union ministers Karia Munda and Joel Oram and Jharkhand CM Arjun Munda — to station themselves at different regional centres of the state to oversee the campaign and polling in Adivasi areas. Ministers from Andhra Pradesh, including Bandaru Dattatreya, have been asked to take care of the Bastar area. Union MoS for Home Swami Chinmayanand has been asked to station himself in the state and ensure that Naxalites are not able to rig the polls.

	PM plays Judeo card, takes on Jogi

			ASHWANI SHARMA Raipur, November 22: ‘‘Chhattisgarh is being run by a chargesheeted Chief Minister,’’ said Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee today while launching his campaign for the BJP in the state today. In his blistering attack, Vajpayee said the Chief Minister, unlike Judeo, didn’t ‘‘show enough moral courage’’ to resign in the wake of the CBI chargesheet against him. Addressing an election meeting at Ambikapur in Sarguja district, the Prime Minister also accused Jogi of inciting adivasis to resort to violence and allowing Naxalites to hamper state’s development process. Hitting back at Jogi for alleging that he was ‘‘framed’’, the PM said: ‘‘Morality desired that he (Jogi) resigned at once after the CBI chargesheet. Unfortunately he chose to stick to the chair instead of coming out clean.’’ Adding that Jogi had written to him and also sent a copy of the controversial document, Vajpayee said: ‘‘Mein to woh document dekhte hi samajh gaya tha ki kuchh golmal hai, daal mein kuchh kala hai. Cabinet secretary dwara janch ke baad pata chala ki sari ki sari daal hi kali hai.’’ ‘ ‘The CBI was entrusted with the probe and investigations revealed that the papers submitted by the Chief Minister along with his letter were forged. Why should anyone try to defame a Chief Minister,’’ he asked, drawing a comparison between Jogi and Judeo who, he said, resigned after the corruption charges against him. To counter the Congress charge of corruption against his party, Vajpayee referred to the Telgi stamp paper scam.

Police personnel seen to control the situation during a massive protest over the statehood demand and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, in Leh on Wednesday. (ANI Video Grab)

Statehood protest takes violent turn in Ladakh, BJP office set ablaze in Leh

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Protests in Ladakh turned violent as students and youth organisations demanded statehood and Sixth Schedule status. Two elderly protesters fainted, prompting a shutdown call. A BJP office and security vehicle were set on fire. Activist Sonam Wangchuk urged for a peaceful approach. The demand for Sixth Schedule status is due to Ladakh's tribal-majority population and direct central administration.

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