Chhattisgarh regional party merges with BJP

Raipur, Feb 25: In a boost to ruling BJP in Chhattisgarh ahead of Lok Sabha polls, a regional party today merged with the saffron outfit. Chhattisagrh Swabhiman Manch (CSM) merged with BJP at a funciton here in the presence of key ruling party leaders, including Chief Minister Raman Singh.

BJP is eyeing to pocket all the 11 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Swabhiman Manch-BJP merger would prove to be a milestone, claimed the Chief Minister at the function held at the state BJP headquarters. CSM was floated by late Tarachand Sahu, a former BJP MP, in 2008 after he had parted ways with the saffron outfit.

Reminding the audience about Sahu's political career, Singh said he was elected MP four times in a row. BJP would set a new record in coming Lok Sabha polls by winning all the 11 seats in Chhattisagrh, he added. Deepak Sahu said his party's workers would strive to ensure BJP makes a clean sweep in the state in the Lok Sabha elections.

"We are also determined to make Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi the Prime Minister of the country." BJP MP from Durg and National President of BJP Mahila Morcha Saroj Pandey and several state ministers were present at the function.

CSM had formed a "third front" in the tribal-dominated state to take on BJP and main opposition Congress in the last assembly elections. Besides the Manch, the others in the front were CPI(M), CPI, Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party. However, the front failed to make any mark in the November polls.

PTI