BJP plans month-long stir against Gujarat CM

The Bharatiya Janata Party will launch a month-long agitation against the Shankersinh Vaghela government's ''misrule and rampant corruption''.

Addressing the media after a two-day BJP executive meeting on Sunday, state party president Vajubhai Vala provided details of the agitational programme which will begin on Wednesday, September 17. Asked whether the BJP would re-admit legislators who joined Vaghela's Rashtriya Janata Party, Vala said his party would not take any step at the cost of its principles. However, he added that the BJP has "a soft corner for some misguided legislators" who had joined the RJP. The case of these MLAs could be considered on "merit" if they wanted to rejoin the BJP unconditionally.

But Vala ruled out the re-admission of diehard Vaghela supporters like Chiman Shukla, MP, and Narsinh Padhiyar. He felt the Congress would be become weaker if it continued its support to the Vaghela government. ''It's ridiculous,'' he said, "that the Congress continues its support though party president Sitaram Kesri described Vaghela as a 'corrupt and characterless person.' "

UNI