Advani asks BJP leaders to shed differences, groupism in UP

Lucknow, Oct 28 (UNI) Lamenting the prevalance of differences and groupism in the party, senior BJP leader L K Advani today gave the party leaders a piece of his mind to mend their ways to meet future challenges.

Stating that the party had done little to establish its proclaimed maxim of ''party with a difference'', he asked them to shun petty differences and carry out selfless service ahead of Parlaimentary elections.

Speaking at the concluding session of two-day UP BJP State Working Committee meeting here, Mr Adavni minced no words while saying the BJP would have to get rid of groupism and reaffirm its status as the 'party with difference'.

Pointing out towards the culture of ''mera aadmi, uska aadmi'' (My man, his man), he made it clear that the party like BJP should not be run this way.

His advice to the party might have emanated from the fact that the two-day meet, which was attended by him as well as party President Rajnath Singh, had many of the state leaders being absent.

Mr Kalyan Singh, who was incharge of party affairs during the last assembly polls, and the former UP BJP President Vinay Katiyar were conspicuous by their absence.

Fully knowing, the party's performance in Uttar Pradesh would be the deciding factor in BJP's aspired elevation to power at the Centre, both Mr Rajnath Singh and Mr Advani had gone on record exhorting partymen to stand united at this hour.

The dismal show of strength by the party at the recent state assembly polls has made the BJP leadership jittery. Uttar Pradesh sends 80 MPs to Lok Sabha.

UNI