Pro- and anti-JPCC chief groups clash

A faction supporting Jharkhand PCC chief Sukhdeo Bhagat and another opposing him were engaged in a clash here today.
The clash took place at a meeting held in regard to the proposed 'Jharkhand Bandh' on October 24 called by opposition parties to protest against the 'failure' of the Raghubar Das government.
When senior leader Subodh Kant Sahay and the party's Jharkhand co-incharge prepared to leave, a group of pro-Bhagat workers started raising slogans in favour of Bhagat and against Manoj Yadav, who has been demanding Bhagat's ouster.
Yadav's supporters tried to drive them away following which the clash ensued.
The situation came under control only after police reached the site.

Bhagat, who was not present at the meeting, later said "some agents of the BJP" were involved in the incident.

"Detailed reports of the incident are being gathered, which will be looked into by the party's disciplinary committee for necessary action. The incident involving a faction of the party was pre-planned and sponsored by BJP," he said.
Meanwhile, Yadav, in a press meet, demanded removal of Bhagat from his post accusing him of indulging in corrupt practices and promoting inactive party workers.
"The party's poll percentage has come down from 16 per cent to 7 per cent under Bhagat's leadership in the state while the number of MLAs has reduced to 7 from 11 five years ago," he claimed.

"We have launched 'Oust Bhagat' signature campaign across the state to collect at least one lakh signatures to submit to AICC chief Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi," he said.
Asked about the clash, Yadav said the protest was a "democratic one" and they "did not believe in violence".
"However, the party workers should have maintained decorum and raised their grievances at a proper party forum," he said. .