Efforts on to bring naxalites back to mainstream, Koda

Hazaribagh, Oct 31 (UNI) Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda today asserted that efforts were being made to bring the naxalites back to the mainstream adding that door was open for peaceful negotiation on the vexed issue The Chief Minister's reiteration on the issue in the run-up-to the November six byelection to Koderma Parliamentary seat assumed significance as Mr Babulala Marandi had resigned from the BJP as well Lok Sabha citing rise in extremism in the region as one of three prominent reasons to justify his parting with the parent organisation.

Mr Koda today visited the district and held a closed door meeting with Mr Imran Kidwai, national president of the Congress minority cell, Ms Noor Bano, in-charge of Congress in Jharkhand, party observer Kripa Shankar Singh, party's state president Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu and MLA Saurabh Narayan Singh to discuss the strategy of the poll.

While refusing to disclose what transpired during the meeting, Mr Koda exuded confidence over the victory of UPA candidate Manoj Kumar Yadav.

The Chief Minister paid tributes to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Sardar Ballabh Bhai Patel at the Congress party office here.

He said the UPA government in the state was required with the motive to provide security to the downtrodden and overall development of the state.

UNI XC-AM-PRS BDP VC2009