BJP state executive meeting in Nagpur from tomorrow

Nagpur, June 20 (UNI) The three-day executive committee meeting of the Maharashtra unit of BJP will begin here tomorrow.

Speaking to newsmen here this evening, BJP state unit Secretary Ashok Mankar said that the office bearers of the party's State unit would meet here tomorrow evening to set the agenda for the meeting.

The members of the executive committee would meet on June 22 and 23 to deliberate on the agenda, he said.

Among the issues to be discussed at the meeting are power shortage in the State, problems of farmers including the large number of suicides by farmers in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, unemployment and malnutrition, Mr Mankar said.

Besides, the delegation would discuss ways and means to strengthen the party organisation in Maharashtra over the next two years and the programmes to be undertaken during that period, he said.

Noted social worker Dr Abhay Bang would make a presentation on malnutrition, while Anil Shidole of Green Earth Foundation, Pune would make presentation on the issue of farmers' suicides before the delegates on June 23, the concluding day, Mr Mankar said, adding that a public meeting would be held here the same evening.

BJP All India Vice President Bal Apte, General Secretary Gopinath Munde, in-charge for Maharashtra Kaptan Singh Solanki and All India Joint Organising Secretary V Satish, besides party MPs Hema Malini, Shatrughan Sinha and Dara Singh, and television actress Smriti Irani are among those expected to attend the meeting, he said. Around 400 delegates from all over the State would attend the proceedings, he added.

The meeting assumes significance as it will be the first after the recent municipal corporation and Zilla Parishads (ZP) elections in the State, and with the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha elections due in 2009.

The last time the BJP State executive met in Nagpur at the headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), was in 2004.

UNI