Munde resigns, alleges no democracy in BJP

Mumbai, Apr 20 (UNI) In a surprise move, BJP General Secretary Gopinath Munde today resigned from all party posts alleging ''lack of democracy in the party.'' Talking to newspersons at Aurungabad, he said, ''The party is not functioning democratically.'' His resignation comes in the wake of the party appointing Madhu Chavan as the president of Mumbai unit, against which, Mr Munde had expressed his resentment. The BJP sources confirmed that Mr Munde's resignation has reached the party.

Mr Chavan's name was cleared by the party high command after the party's three - member committee, comprising former Minister Ram Naik, Mr Vedprakash Goel and Mr Balasaheb Apte, had elicited opinion from city party workers and submitted a report to the national leadership, the party release said. The statement claimed that Mr Munde was consulted in this regard.

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