The Hindu : New Delhi News : Leadership change in Uttarakhand ruled out

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Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008
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Leadership change in Uttarakhand ruled out

Special Correspondent

Sushma Swaraj denies reports of resignation by 17 MLAs

Venkaiah, Sushma to listen to MLAs’ grievances
‘CM’s style of functioning main issue’

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party, which is facing a virtual revolt by party legislators in Uttarakhand, ruled out a change of leadership in the State on Tuesday. Senior party leaders were holding talks with the disgruntled MLAs and a solution to their grievances would be found soon, it said.

Addressing a press conference here, senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj denied reports that 17 party MLAs had handed their resignation letters to party president Rajnath Singh. “We are looking into the issues raised by the MLAs. No legislator has resigned from the Vidhan Sabha as is being reported. The party would address the issue and settle it through talks.”

Viable solution

Ms. Swaraj said the party leadership had asked senior leader Venkaiah Naidu and her to listen to the grievances of the party MLAs and work out a viable solution. However, the party did not intend to change the present leadership. B.C. Khanduri would continue as Chief Minister. “The MLAs are unhappy with his style of functioning and this was the only major grievance.”

Asked about 11other MLAs also raising the banner of revolt, Ms. Swaraj said she had no such information.

‘Curtain raiser’

She said the BJP Parliamentary Party met on Tuesday morning under the leadership of senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani.

Mr. Advani told the MPs to prepare for the coming Assembly elections in five States and described the elections as a “curtain raiser” to the Lok Sabha polls scheduled for next year, she said. “Mr. Advani was of the view that corruption was the biggest issue along with price rise against the present UPA government at the Centre and asked the elected representatives to focus on the failures of the UPA government and the achievements of the BJP governments.”

Ms. Swaraj said the Congress was in a bad shape as it had lost all the elections held in the last two years.

“We will do well in the States ruled by us as these governments had done good work,” she said.

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