M A I N   N E W S

Revolt against Khanduri?
17 BJP dissidents resign from Uttarakhand Assembly
Faraz Ahmad
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 20
The 18-month-old government of Chief Minister B.C. Khanduri in Uttarakhand appeared in serious trouble with his detractors in the BJP claiming here today that 17 MLAs had submitted resignations from the state Assembly.

A source close to former Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari said the letters had been handed over to BJP president Rajnath Singh, demanding the removal of Khanduri as a precondition for withdrawing the resignations.

But BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar flatly denied and described these reports as “totally baseless”.

At Rajnath Singh’s residence another party functionary from the media cell, Nalin Kohli, said, “Today is Rajnath Singh’s grand daughter’s birthday and we are all busy with that. I can assure you no one has come here nor have we received any fax message so far.”

The dissidents claim they have the support of another 10 MLAs with them and if need be these would also be mobilised. They have reportedly warned Rajnath Singh that in case he did not heed to their demand, they would submit their resignations directly to the Speaker of the Assembly, sources said.

Those in this list include Trivendra Singh Rawat, Prakash Pant, Beena Mahra and Kedar Singh, all confidants of Bhagat Singh Koshiyari.

According to sources, in the event of the party ignoring their demand, Koshiyari could build further pressure by handing over his resignation directly to the Assembly speaker in Dehradun.

The BJP dissidents from Uttarakhand, led by state minister Trivendra Rawat, had come to Delhi on August 11 and had met Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley and even L.K. Advani. But Advani outright rejected their demand. Khanduri is considered in party circles as Advani’s choice.

Advani had asked them to bury their differences till the state panchayat concluded. The BJP has swept the panchayat polls giving a morale boost to Khanduri and it was expected that this way he could consolidate his position in the state the party. But the new crisis has unsettled him before he could enjoy the fruits of this major victory. He leads his government by just a single member majority in the 70-member state Assembly.

S.M.A. Kazmi adds from Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Major Gen B.C. Khanduri has denied the reports about the submission of resignation by 17 BJP legislators to party president Rajnath Singh. Talking to media persons here Monday night, the Chief Minister said he had talked to Rajnath Singh on telephone regarding the reports of submission of resignation by party legislators to him but the party president denied getting any such resignations.

Khanduri also denied the knowledge of presence of any party legislator in the National Capital. Asked about the statement given by a party legislator on a television channel regarding dissatisfaction with the working of the party, Khanduri said such things should be raised at the party forum.

He further said such statement hamper the work of development in the state as they create uncertainty.

Meanwhile, state education minister Madan Kaushik has come in favour of the Chief Minister. In a statement circulated by the state government, Kaushik, denied any rebellion by party legislators.