The Hindu : Samata crisis deepens

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 14, 2003

National

National

Samata crisis deepens

By K. Balchand

PATNA April 13. The infighting in the Samata Party intensified today with the Railway Minister, Nitish Kumar, coming out in the open and his faction demanding the expulsion of two MPs and three legislators close to the Defence Minister and party chief, George Fernandes. In turn, the Fernandes faction demanded Mr. Kumar's expulsion.

Mr. Kumar broke his silence condoning the agenda of the Legislature Party, the State executive and the State council, which were held one after the other to take control of the organisation. The Legislature Party meeting was used to replace its leader, Uma Shanker Singh, with Upendra Kushwaha and authorising Mr. Kumar to take a final decision on the matter.

The executive body recommended the expulsion from the primary membership of the party the two MPs, Raghunath Jha, who was forced to resign as State unit chief a couple of months ago, and Brahmanand Mandal, whose suspension was revoked by Mr. Fernandes recently.

It also called upon the party chief to expel two MLAs, Ganesh Paswan and Bhai Birendra, and MLC, P.K.Sinha, who laid the foundation for the present crisis by getting the Election Commission into the picture.

The State council ratified these actions and urged Mr. Fernandes to act on them at the earliest, failing which it would be free to act as it would deem.

All the meetings were presided by the state convenor, Bashisht Narain Singh, and attended by four MPs of the Lok Sabha and two of the Rajya Sabha. None spoke against Mr. Fernandes.

Mr. Kumar, who was not present, however, maintained that he was with the State unit and hoped that Mr. Fernandes would accept the recommendations.

On the other hand, those close to Mr. Fernandes held a meeting at Darbhanga today and demanded the expulsion of Mr. Kumar.

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