BJP staked claim on Gadkari’s direction

“At 11:30 pm I got a phone call from our party president,who asked me to call a legislature party meeting today at 9:00 to elect Munda in my place,” he said.

Munda had late last night sent a list of 45 MLAs with their signatures to the national leadership after JMM gave a signal on September 4 that it would give unconditional support to whichever party initiated government formation.

He had contacted senior leaders Ananth Kumar,Rajnath Singh and Venkaiah Naidu for a green signal.

Das gave party leaders some anxious moments as he arrived three hours late before submitting his resignation as the legislature party leader.

“The delay indicates that a section of the BJP are not keen on forming a government and want mid-term polls…but the party’s direction should be adhered to,” said a senior leader.