BJP takes cue from Uma, expands CBP

The party gave sweeping powers to Rajnath Singh and asked him to constitute the new Parliamentary Board and other panels.

Under attack from expelled leader Uma Bharti that its highest decision making body was not representative enough, BJP on Friday increased the strength of its Central Parliamentary Board (CPB) from nine to 11.

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Proposing the amendment to Section 25 of the party Constitution at its national council meeting in New Delhi, senior leader Pramod Mahajan said the objective behind increasing the Board's strength was to include all sections.

Following her expulsion by the CPB, Bharti had alleged that the Board did not represent the weaker and deprived sections of the society.

The party also gave sweeping powers to its new President Rajnath Singh by empowering him to constitute the new Parliamentary Board, Central Election Committee and Central Disciplinary Committee of the party.

As per the party Constitution, these three bodies are set up by the national executive but Mahajan said since the executive had met only last month as part of the silver jubilee celebrations, it was decided to authorise Singh to appoint the key party bodies.

Both proposals were seconded by Arun Jaitley and unanimously approved by th House.