KL Report
Srinagar
NC has asked Prof Chaman Lal Gupta led faction of BJP to support the ruling coalition fully. Gupta who was expelled from BJP along with six other lawmakers for going against the party interests had met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and offered their support to the NC candidate Dr Shehnaz Ganai.
Within less than 24 hours after the meeting, Omar’s political advisor Devender Singh Rana issued a statement appreciating Gupta’s gesture. NC, Rana said, can only accept their (Gupta and Co) support if it is extended to both the candidates of the coalition Sham Lal Bhagat (Congress) and Dr Shenaz Ganai (NC).
Interestingly, Rana clarified that that the issue of the ensuing Legislative Council elections was not even discussed in the meeting between Omar Abdullah and Gupta led six legislators. Only developmental issues were raised by the legislators, he said.
Gupta who was the defence minister in NDA government was thrown out from the party last year after it was established that he alongwith six other lawmakers had voted for two ruling coalition candidates in the last legislative council ignoring the party candidate. BJP had written to the assembly speaker as well seeking action under anti defection law. The case is currently in the court.
The estranged lawmakers of the right wing party have actually set up their own party and it had a grand introduction when three of its recruits stormed into the assembly in October. The assembly choose to hand over the case to the police.
In the legislative council election slated for December 3, Gupta and his supporters have decided to extend support to the NC. But the party wants to accept it only if the support is extended to Congress as well.
