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Sunday, Mar 06, 2005

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Bhajan Lal makes a turnaround

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 5. After striking a defiant stance on Friday on losing the race for chief ministership, the sulking Haryana strongman, Bhajan Lal, today made a turnaround; extending full support to the man who piped him to the post, Bhupinder Singh Hooda. He was also present at the swearing-in ceremony in Chandigarh in the evening.

A former Chief Minister of Haryana for 12 years — a point which he reiterated time and again this morning at a press conference — Mr. Lal changed his position publicly after Mr. Hooda called on him early today. Though conceding defeat to the younger Congressman, Mr. Lal said he would not be attending the swearing-in ceremony because of a preoccupation in the capital and deputed his son, Chandra Mohan, instead for the purpose.

But, by afternoon, following a meeting with the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, the former Chief Minister said he along with the MLAs supporting him would attend the swearing-in ceremony. Prior to his meeting with Ms. Gandhi at 10 Janpath, Mr. Lal was closeted with the senior party leader, Motilal Vora.

`Bout of anger'

Briefing mediapersons after his meeting with the Chief Minister-designate, Mr. Lal attributed his defiance — including submission of resignation from the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) — to a "bout of anger." Admitting disappointment, he said: "I fought till the very end since a majority of the MLAs were with me and did not want me to give up the post of Chief Minister without a fight. It was just a pressure tactic; there is no question of me leaving the Congress which made me Chief Minister for 12 years and a Minister for eight years. I was born in the Congress, my entire family is with the party."

Refusing to comment on whether his son would join the Hooda Government, Mr. Lal sought to distance himself from his reported statement about a possible development in three months. "It does not mean I plan to upset the Government; all it means is that I will come up with a comprehensive plan to strengthen the party and make the administration responsive to the needs of the deprived people."

While expressing complete confidence in Ms. Gandhi and support for her decision, Mr. Lal refused to explain what had made him change his stance. About his Friday's meeting with Ms. Gandhi, he said: "She asked me to remain PCC president and said it was equivalent to that of a Chief Minister." Also, according to him, the high command had not accepted his resignation from PCC presidentship.

As for him accepting a gubernatorial office, the former Chief Minister said he would abide by whatever the "high command decides."

* * *

Bandh in Adampur

Despite the former Haryana Chief Minister, Bhajan Lal, extended support to the new Haryana Government led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda, his supporters called for a bandh today in his home constituency of Adampur in Hissar district.

According to sources, they also took out a procession in Adampur to register their protest against the party high command's decision to ignore Mr. Bhajan Lal's claim to chief ministership. However, district officials said no untoward incident had been reported so far.

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