Shiv Sena dejects BJP's offer; dumps JPC

New Delhi, Feb 24: Shiv Sena dejects ally BJP's offer of a seat in the JPC panel on 2G spectrum scam. As a multi-national company owned by one of its Rajya Sabha members is allegedly a beneficiary of the contract, says report.

Based on its strength in both Houses of Parliament, BJP was alloted four seats from Lok Sabha and two from Rajya Sabha in the 30-member JPC. Since long-time ally Shiv Sena did not have the numbers to get any seat in the panel, BJP offered one seat from its share in Lok Sabha.

BJP sources said Shiv Sena turned down this offer as its Rajya Sabha member Rajkumar Dhoot is a partner in Videocon Telecommunications which is one of the companies that was alloted 2G Spectrum.

The contract was given to Datacom Solutions which later became Videocon Telecommunications. Rajkumar Dhoot's brother Venugopal Dhoot has deposed before the CBI in connection with the case.

Though BJP sources gave this reason, there was no official word from Shiv Sena on why it had opted out.

After Shiv Sena refused the BJP offer, the principal opposition nominated its Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde to the JPC.

Other BJP members in the committee are Jaswant Singh, Yashwant Sinha and Harin Pathak from Lok Sabha and party Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha SS Ahluwalia and Ravi Shankar Prasad from the Upper House.

Another BJP ally JD(U) has nominated its party president Sharad Yadav to the JPC.

PTI