Gopal Shetty to head Mumbai BJP; party crisis over

Mumbai, Apr 22 (UNI) The crisis in Maharashtra BJP was today blown over with the party replacing within two days new Mumbai party unit president Madhu Chavan with former Mayor Gopal Shetty, a city MLA.

Barely hours afer the announcement of Mr Chavan as President of the city unit, Senior leader and National General Secretary Gopinath Munde raised a banner of revolt and tendered resignation from all party posts. However, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha L K Advani summoned him for talks with central leadership and diffused the situation which might have otherwise caused a split in the state unit.

Party state president Nitin Gadkari told UNI that Mr Shetty had emerged as the consensus candidate to replace Mr Chavan, a member of the legislative council.

Party sources claimed that Mr Munde had urged that either former president Prakash Mehta should be allowed to continue or former MP Dr Kirit Somaiya, who had once headed the unit should be given the responsibility. He also forwarded the name of Raj Purohit for the post.

However, after the meeting between Mr Munde and party leaders at New Delhi today, it was agreed to name Mr Shetty as the new President.

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