Keshari gets tough with neo rebels

LUCKNOW: Alarmed by the growingdiscontent within the party over constitution of new state committee, BJP statepresident Keshari Nath Tripathi has now taken certain drastic steps to containthe situation.As a first step, he forced Ram Asrey Kushwaha, who wasnominated as vice-president, to put in his papers. Kushwaha submitted hisresignation on Saturday.Kushwaha''s appointment had drawn flak fromthe party leaders as he not only joined the BJP recently just before the LokSabha polls, but was indicted by the Lokayukta in a bribery case. AlthoughKushwaha claimed that he had obtained a stay order from the court on the FIRlodged against him in Bahraich in 2002 but Tripathi was not convinced anddirected him to submit his resignation till he finally comes out clean from thecharges.After settling the Kushwaha issue, Tripathi assured a probeinto charges levelled against another vice-president Surya Pratap Sahi by partyMLA from Fazilnagar Jagdish Mishra alias Balti Baba. In two letters to Tripathi,Mishra had charged Sahi with indulging in anti-party activities by appointingtainted district office-bearers to damage the party.Although Sahitoo denied charges but Tripathi has ordered an internal probe into theallegations and counter-charges levelled by Sahi against Mishra. "It isnecessary to look into complaints to bring out the truth. Action would followafter the report," said a leader close to Tripathi.After Kushwahaand Sahi episodes, public utterances by former minister Phagu Chauhan in Ghosion October 2 were another issue which rocked the party. "I had detaileddiscussion with Phagu Chauhan. The chapter is closed after his replies," claimedTripathi.Tripathi shrugs off these problems as teething troublewhich all leaders face when they assume the charge. "Dialogue is my main weapon.One can effectively deal with any situation or person after holding a one-to-onetalk and giving a patient hearing to the aggrieved party," chuckles former stateAssembly Speaker, who is known for averting many a troubles for the then rulingcoalition within the house.