Beware, ?Zidanes? in BJP

THE MINISTER for Parliamentary Affairs, Narottam Mishra has warned “Zidanes” in the party of strict action if they indulged in anti-government activities.

Mishra was reacting to reports that a number of MLAs expressed their annoyance over the government’s performance particularly that of the ministers at the BJP Legislature Party meet held at the Chief Minister’s residence last night.

Mishra was flanked by the legislature party secretary, Dhyanendra Singh and permanent secretary Gaurishankar Kaushal. When asked about the ‘Zidanes’ in the party he talked about, he changed his tack quickly and said there was no Zidane in the party.

But, if they were found the party would take action against them, he said. When asked what he meant by ‘Zidane,’ he said it meant those who did such a thing that their own team faced defeat.

He said it was only a few of the MLAs, who spoke against a few ministers without naming them on some local problems. In all, it was a very successful meeting which unanimously praised the performance of the chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The State BJP-in-charge Ananth Kumar made it clear at the last night meeting that Shivraj Singh enjoyed support from Atalji, Advaniji and Rajnath Singh. There was no threat to his chair. Mishra was, however at loss of words when asked why the party needed to make it clear every time that there was no threat to the CM’s chair or the government.

He denied that the Jabalpur (West) MLA Harender Jeet Singh Babbu had burst out against the Speaker Ishwardas Rohani. He said Babbu did not name anybody but only complained that all the development money was spent in just one constituency in the city.

Narottam Mishra, however, admitted that Khandwa’s MLA Hukumchand Yadav and certain other MLAs were critical of the functioning of a few ministers.

He said as per the instructions from Ananth Kumar, Vikas shivir, Vikas yatra and Vikas parv would be organised all over state to propagate the government’s welfare schemes and achievements. The August 26-27 camp of MLAs would be held outside Bhopal, in which all the MLAs would be free to express their views.