One More Mla Rebels Against Shekhawat
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership failed to take any action against the rebels in Rajasthan even as one more party MLA came out openly against Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat yesterday despite state party presidents hint that action would be taken in a day or two. In a statement in New Delhi, Shanker Bhanuda, who stayed away from the dissidents press conference on Wednesday, said, I am totally against the autocratic style of functioning of Shekhawat who is giving more importance to bureaucrats than MLAs.
He claimed that two more MLAS, Nand Lal Vyas and Madan Mohan, were also with the dissidents group and staying in the Union Capital.
We are trying to reach a tally of 15 so that we can force the party high command to bring about a change in leadership, he asserted.
With him, the dissident group has swelled to 10.
Gopi Chand Gujjar and Bhanuda separately said that they were redrafting the strategy and expressed confidence that five more MLAs would join them by the end of this week.
In Jaipur, state party president Ram Das Agrawal said that disciplinary action against rebel party legislators would be taken in a day or two.
Interestingly, a meeting of some independent legislators was also held yesterday morning to discuss the situation which was attended by about half a dozen legislators. These independents decided to save the Shekhawat government if such a situation arises.
Ruling out any possibility of change of leadership in the BJP Legislature Party, Agrawal told reporters that the BJP government in the state did not face any threat. There was not at all a Gujarat-like situation in the party here, he said.
Admitting dissidence in the party, he said that there was no revolt in the party. Hel said that disciplinary action would be taken after consultation in the party as per the constitutional provisions.
Asked why action was being delayed against those legislators who had spoken against the Chief Minister, Agrawal said that neither was there any delay nor any hesitation in taking action against them. However, the procedure was also to be followed and party constitution could not be ignored.
Agrawal stated that the conspiracy of destabilising the democratically elected BJP government by money power would not succeed in Rajasthan. He said that the BJP legislators and the people of Rajasthan could not be deceived by such conspiracies.
Agrawal said that he had identified some people believed to be behind the game. However, he declined to divulge their names or political affiliations.
Former Union minister Satish Agarwal also ruled out a Gujarat-type situation, saying neither was there any Vaghela nor any Keshubhai in Rajasthan. He said that the Chief Minister was capable of foiling such moves.
Senior BJP leaders also met at the party headquarters to review the situation after announcement of resignation. The issue of initiating disciplinary action against the seven leaders was also raised during the meeting. However, difference of opinion was reported over the issue at the meeting.
Later, a meeting of party legislators was also held to review the situation and to reaffirm faith and confidence in the Shekhawats leadership.