The Hindu : BJP chief relents

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 30, 2002

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BJP chief relents

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI June 29. The BJP president, Jana Krishnamurthi, said today that he had informed the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Union Home Minister, L.K. Advani, that he would abide by ``whatever decision they take'' since ``none of us (BJP men) has failed to carry out his (Mr. Vajpayee's) desires.''

He said he had agreed to accept a Cabinet post after much persuasion. Contrary to reports in a section of the media, he had not resigned as the BJP president so far. ``If chosen as a Minister, automatically I cease to be the party president.'' The BJP administrative committee would meet in New Delhi on Monday to decide on the new office-bearers, if he was named a Minister.

Asked if he was being removed for the party's poor showing in the Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal elections, Mr. Krishnamurthi said electoral reverses were common to any party. In the BJP, the leadership was not the only one held responsible for election results; the entire party took the blame or the glory. By offering him a Cabinet berth, he was not being kicked upstairs. ``In our party, nobody gets kicked upstairs.''

Pressed further, he said the situation reminded him of the half-full ``tumbler.'' ``In your view, I am being removed. But in my organisation's view, I am being taken into the Cabinet.''

Asked if he was satisfied with his performance as the party president, he avoided a direct reply: ``We perform our work as a duty to our party heartily and willingly.''

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