BHOPAL: The stalemate over the leadership issue in Madhya Pradesh continues even as a battle of wits rages between dissident MLAs and those heading the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party organisation in the State.

While the pro-changers are trying their utmost to build pressure on the party's central leadership for a leadership change, the State BJP leadership has initiated moves to woo the disgruntled MLAs away from the camp led by former Chief Minister Uma Bharti. The dissident MLAs have started complaining that pressure is being mounted on them to deny that they had any role in the signature campaign against Chief Minister Babulal Gaur.

Membership drive

The State BJP president, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, asked the party secretaries at a meeting here on Wednesday to ensure that the MLAs got down to work and engage themselves in the membership drive, which was to conclude on October 31 but has been extended till November 30. It was also proposed at this meeting that the party organisation secretaries should take steps to convince the dissident MLAs to distance themselves from the campaign for leadership change.

Three State Ministers, Gauri Shankar Shejwar, Anup Mishra and Dhal Singh Bisen, left on Wednesday night for Delhi, where they were likely to post the central leadership about the latest political developments in the State These Ministers could not be contacted and their official staff were tight-lipped and refused to divulge anything when asked about their tour programme on Thursday evening. The dissident MLAs, led by Ms. Bharti, are pressing for a legislature party meeting to elect a new leader.

However, the party has taken the stand that the issue would be addressed after the Bihar Assembly election.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail