Amidst claims that the two parties are having back channel communication to resolve the coalition crisis in Bihar in a “cordial atmosphere”, the BJP has deferred a decision to whether its leaders join the Vishwas Yatra” with JD(U) leader and chief minister Nitish Kumar. “VishwasYatra” is scheduled to take place in Gaya on Friday.
BJP president Nitin Gadkari had several rounds of meetings with senior leaders from Bihar including the state unit chief CP Thakur and deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi. Senior leaders Ravishankar Prasad and Shahnawaz Hussain were also part the daylong deliberations on the issue.
Later some of the senior leaders confided that the deputy chief minister would not participate in the rally to be held in Gaya. However, the Central leadership insisted that no directions had yet been given to party’s Bihar unit about the Vishwas Yatra.
***
Singh return aimed at Rajput votes
Narayan Bareth
Jaipur
June 24: The return of former external affairs minister Jaswant Singh’s return to the BJP was seen as an attempt to regain Rajput votes as the community had distanced itself from the saffron party during the Lok Sabha polls.
According to sources, former chief minister Vasundhra Raje and Mr Singh were considered adversaries in Rajasthan politics.
According to sources, in the absence of late Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the BJP was looking for a prominent Rajput leader to bring back Rajputs in its fold. The expulsion of Mr Singh had further annoyed the Rajput community.
***
BJP should clarify Jinnah stand: Cong
Age Correspondent
New Delhi
June 24: With the BJP taking Mr Jaswant Singh back into its fold, the Congress on Thursday said the Opposition party should explain to the country whether it endorses his views on Pakistan founder M.A. Jinnah.
“The BJP has become like a revolving door of a hotel. It throws out people outside at one time and brings them inside the next time,” party spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters here.
“Though it is their internal matter, I want to ask the BJP that since they have reinducted Jaswant Singh, do they endorse the eulogisation of Jinnah in his book,” he said. Mr Tewari added that the BJP should give an explanation to the country on the issue.