TN BJP leaders clash

Coimbatore, March 17 (UNI) Tension prevailed for more than two hours when two groups of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) started shouting slogans against each other in front of party State President L Ganesan in a private lodge at Gangdhipuram here today.

The trouble started following a news that former Lok Sabha member C P Radhakrishnan's followers A P Rajan and Nanvennan were removed from Zonal Presidential's posts. The tension increased as soon as Ganesan arrived at the lodge, after inaugurating a party office at Ganapathy in the city. Hundreds of Radhakrishnan followers assembled at the lodge and lay seige to the party President's room. Police struggled to bring the situation under control.

The Party President, after conducting a meeting with party local leaders, including C P Radhakrishnan, told reporters that he will constitute a three member committee led by State President N Laxmanan with members of Radhakrishnan and Raja's groups to enquire the problems of BJP followers here. The committee would start enquiry as soon as possible. On the basis of the committee's report they would take further action, he said.

Stating that there was no groupism in the party, he said among the followers of their leaders there may be some differences, which would be sorted out soon.

Mr Ganesan said he would visit Hogenakkal tomorrow, to review the project and his party was always in favour of Hogenakkal drinking water project.

Mr Yedyurappa might have visited the area due to the forthcoming election in Karnataka or due to the pressure from the local party unit. ''We will not allow the project to be given up,'' he added.

On the different approach of the same party in different States he said his party always stood for the right cause on any issue.

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