Shejwar quits MP BJP post

A crisis developed in the MP BJP as Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Gauri Shankar Shejwar sent his resignation from the post to party c...

A crisis developed in the MP BJP as Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Gauri Shankar Shejwar sent his resignation from the post to party chief M. Venkaiah Naidu within hours of appointment of Kailash Joshi as the state party chief.

Joshi, a Rajya Sabha member and former CM, stepped in to the shoes of Vikram Verma, inducted in to the Union ministry yesterday. Sources here claimed that the leadership, fearing adverse publicity on account of a Lokayukta inquiry into his dealings with a liquor firm, asked him to step down.

BJP leaders were away in Bangalore for a convention and were unavailable for comments. Spokesman Sunil Shastri said he was still waiting for a report. When contacted over phone, Shejwar neither confirmed nor denied having resigned from his post.

A Dalit leader, Shejwar represented Sanchi seat near Bhopal. He was at the forefront in opposing appointment of Union Coal and Mines Minister Uma Bharati as state chief. Shejwar is likely to be succeeded by ex-minister Babu Lal Gaur. The others in the race, include Himmat Kothari and Kailash Vijayvargiya.

It8217;s not clear what Venkaiah is upto, given the fact that his plan to revamp state units seems to be going haywire.

After seeking to install Uma Bharati as MP chief to counter CM Digvijay Singh, he ended up appointing 70-year-old Joshi as state chief.

In Rajasthan, 80-year-old chief Bhanwar Lal Sharma continues, with Vasundhara Raje resisting the move to pack her off to Jaipur. 8216;8216;I expect to be around for some time8230;It is for the party to decide and issue orders. I am a worker of the party and will do as told,8217;8217; she said.

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The fate of two other state chiefs, Ratan Lal Kataria Haryana and B.L. Rinwa Punjab also remains uncertain. Kataria, a Dalit representing Ambala LS seat, faces the axe for being 8216;8216;non serious.8217;8217; Rinwa finds himself in the firing line due to the poll debacle.