NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi
The National Democratic Alliance coordination committee on Wednesday reposed full faith in the leadership of the Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, even as Shiv Sena's boycott of the meeting set tongues wagging.
Briefing reporters at the end of the meeting, NDA convenor George Fernandes said all members reposed complete faith in the leadership of Vajpayee and also agreed to formulate a code of conduct to ensure uniformity of perception on policy issues.
He said, "The NDA has rededicated itself to work as a solid phalanx under the leadership of Shri Atalji."
Asked to comment on the absence of Shiv Sena members in the meeting, Fernandes sought to make light of the boycott and said that Shiv Sena minister Suresh Prabhu could not attend the meeting because of 'personal reasons'.
Fernandes claimed that Thackeray had reprimanded party member Sanjay Nirupam, who had launched a blitzkrieg on the government on the UTI issue.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray wanted Sanjay Nirupam to apologise in the NDA meeting.
Interestingly, Sanjay Nirupam also did not attend the meeting.
Fernandes also said that a four-member group comprising Sikander Bakht, Murasoli Maran, Arjun Charan Sethi and Fernandes himself had been entrusted with the responsibility with drafting a code of conduct.
Fernandes also pointed out that NDA shared the prime minister's disappointment and distress over the irresponsible action and behaviour of some individuals, which gave 'an impression of a lack of cohesiveness' in the ruling alliance.
He said the NDA has resolved not to allow the opposition to make political capital out of this development.
The NDA therefore, is ready to discuss any issue in Parliament, he added.
Immediately after the meeting, Prime Minister Vajpayee told the Lok Sabha that the BJP Parliamentary party as well as the NDA had full faith in his leadership, which is why he was present in the house.
Vajpayee's statement came when Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party chief and Raghuvansh Prasad Singh of Rashtriya Janata Dal wanted to know the status of the Vajpayee's resignation, which he had offered on Tuesday.
Regretting the inconvenience caused by his resignation offer, the Vajpayee said in Hindi, "Barsat Ka Mausam Hai, Badal to Girege, Lekin Badal Chatenge bhi (It is the monsoon season, clouds will come and they will go also."
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
