Tie-up with Atmaram, a bonus

NEW DELHI, Dec 26: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might have seat adjustments for the State Assembly polls in Gujarat with the Atmaram Pa...

NEW DELHI, Dec 26: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might have seat adjustments for the State Assembly polls in Gujarat with the Atmaram Patel group which broke away from the Rashtriya Janata Party yesterday. BJP vice president K L Sharma said today that it was possible for the RJP (A) to "borrow" the BJP’s lotus symbol.

Meanwhile, the RJP expelled six ministers–Atmaram Patel, Manilal Patel, A K patel, Laxman Parma, Kirit Patel and Pratapbhai Patel–on charges of "indiscipline and revolt." The action came in the wake of RJP spliting last night with Atmaram Patel announcing the formation of a new outfit RJP (A).

Ruling RJP president Madhusudan Mistry warned that the party would not hesitate to take action against those partymen indulging in indiscipline. He said the party leader had yesterday assessed the political situation and said the doors were open to Congress for poll adjustment for Lok Sabha and Assembly seats.

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The BJP today demanded that the President should intervene in Gujarat and ensure that President’s Rule is imposed in the State. Party leaders said they feared that if a caretaker RJP government is in the saddle at the time of elections, it would try to mar the BJP’s prospects.

Lambasting Gujarat Governor Krishna Pal Singh, Sharma said his acceptance of the Dilip Parikh Cabinet’s recommendation to dissolve the state Assembly was "constitutionally improper" and "one-sided".