RJD convention at Sarnath to give call for separate Purvanchal

Varanasi, Aug 22 (UNI) The two-day sixth national convention of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) at Sarnath from August 25 will give a call for a separate state of 'Purvanchal' to be created out of East Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad will also be elected as RJD president for the sixth straight time by the national executive, party national media in charge Muktinath Upadhayay told UNI here this evening.

Over 20,000 delegates led by RJD supremo and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi will participate in the national convention at the world famous Buddhist pilgrimage of Sarnath.

A wide range of political, economic and national isses, including reiteration of RJD's unflinching support to the Indo-US 123 nuke deal will be discussed at the convention.

''The focus, however, will be for giving a call for a separate Purvanchal state to further broaden RJD's base in East UP,'' Mr Upadhayay maintained.

The other prominent leaders, who will attend the convention include Union Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, M A Fatmi, Prem Chand Gupta, Kanti Singh and Jai Prakash Yadav, besides MLAs from Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, West Bengal and Nagaland.

UNI