BJP summons C P Thakur following his resignation

Patna, Oct 9 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) high command has summoned Bihar BJP President C P Thakur to New Delhi after he tendered his resignation from the party post on Friday ahead of the Assembly polls in the State.

"I have been called by BJP national president Nitin Gadkari to discuss the issues raised by me. I shall be leaving for Delhi. I don't want to precipitate any crisis at the crucial stage of elections. We have to ensure the victory of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at all costs in the elections," said Thakur.

"Let me go to Delhi first and discuss the issue ... I think everything will be over when I return from Delhi tomorrow morning," he added, when asked whether he would withdraw his resignation.

BJP core group member Ashwini Kumar Choubey, who had also resigned along with CP Thakur, has also been called to New Delhi by the BJP high command.

Thakur tendered his resignation on Friday, as he was upset with the party decision to allocate Digha seat to the Janata Dal-United (JD-U).

Thakur reportedly wanted to field his son Vivek from that seat on a BJP ticket.

The six-phase poll for 243 seats in Bihar begins from October 21 and concludes on November 20.

The first phase of elections will take place on October 21 for 47 state assembly seats, the second phase on October 24, the third phase on October 28 for 48 seats, the fourth on November1 for 42 seats, the fifth phase on November 9 for 25 seats and the sixth and last phase on November 20 for 26 seats.

Candidates can withdraw their nomination papers till October 18.

Counting of votes will take place on November 24.

Bihar has over 5.5 crore voters, who will exercise their franchise through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). (ANI)