UKD will not be jettisoned from Uttarakhand govt: Khanduri

Bhopal, Sep 23 (UNI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister B C Khanduri today said that despite his BJP government now enjoying a clear majority in the state, the alliance partner Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) would not be jettisoned from the alliance as the coalition was functioning smoothly.

The visiting leader was responding to media posers about reports that a section of his party wished to evict two ministers drawn from supporting entities as the BJP now controlled 37 seats including a nominated MLA in the 70-member Assembly. Maj-Gen Khanduri is attending the BJP's three-day National Executive meet that concludes here today.

''The BJP entered into a written agreement with the alliance partner,'' he added.

The Chief Minister hinted that he was on the verge of elevating certain people to positions of chairpersons of corporations and boards. This would be done purely on merit.

At the time of the Vidhan Sabha polls, the BJP had captured 34 of the 69 seats and had formed the government along with the UKD and support of independents.

When asked whether a wafer-thin majority would place too much leveraging power in the hands of legislators as is the case in Goa, the retired Army officer said, ''there is a clear-cut message -- no nonsense will be tolerated.'' UNI PKJ-AC AB RK2238