George remains NDA Convenor: Rajnath Singh

New Delhi, Sept 25: BJP President Rajnath Singh today said former Defence Minister George Fernandes continued to be the NDA Convenor and people would be informed if there was any change in his status.

Asked if Mr Fernandes, who had talked of walking out of the NDA, was no longer wanted in the coalition, Mr Singh said just as former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee remained the coalition's Chairman, Mr Fernandes was still the convenor.

There was confusion when Mr Singh said Mr Fernandes 'was' the convenor of the NDA. However, he quickly corrected himself to assert that Mr Fernandes was still the convenor.

Mr Fernandes, who is currently on a visit to Japan, has indicated that he felt relegated and sidelined within the Janata Dal (United) since his replacement as party president in April and expressed anguish against the JD(U) and the NDA who, he said, had ''no use for me''.

Reports from Hubli in Karnataka quoted Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav saying his party would take a decision on inviting Mr Fernandes into Samajwadi Party within a fortnight.

UNI

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