BJP asked me not to contest Lok Sabha polls: MM Joshi
New Delhi: Former BJP president and Lok Sabha MP Murli Manohar Joshi has been asked by his party to not contest the coming general election, a development in line with its decision to not field many of its veterans, including its founding member and longest serving chief L K Advani, in the polls.
Joshi's office confirmed the development. It said Joshi has issued a brief statement for voters in Kanpur, from where the 85-year-old leader had won in 2014.
The statement said BJP general secretary (organisation) Ram Lal, a Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) appointee, had conveyed Joshi the party leadership's decision that he should not be contesting the elections.
He had vacated Varanasi seat, which he had won in 2009, for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014.
It, however, remains to be seen if the former Union minister, who along with former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Advani, was seen as BJP's face for more than two decades, will reconcile to the decision or not.
Joshi heads Parliament's Estimates Committee and some of its observations, including on jobs, the GDP and non-performing assets, embarrassed the government.
BJP leaders said the party has taken a "principled decision" that veterans should make the way for younger leaders.
The BJP has also not given tickets to likes of B C Khanduri, Kariya Munda, Kalraj Mishra, Bijoya Chakravarty - all many term MPs and over 80 years of age - besides Advani (91).
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36 injured as private bus plunges off bridge in Karnataka’s Shivamogga
Shivamogga (Karnataka) (PTI): Thirty-six people were injured on Monday after a private bus allegedly went out of control and plunged off a bridge in the district, police said.
The incident occurred at around 1.30 pm near Kagehalla in Veerapura village of Bhadravati taluk, they said.
According to police, the bus was travelling from Channagiri in Davanagere district to Bhadravati when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle near a bridge across a stream.
The bus hit the bridge’s side barrier and overturned into the stream below, which had a very low water level.
A total of 36 people, including the driver and conductor, were injured in the accident, a senior police officer said.
Of them, 25 sustained minor injuries and were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment, he added.
A case has been registered at the Bhadravati Rural police station, and further investigation is underway, police said.
