BJP veterans have not been sidelined: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

BANGALORE: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today rejected suggestions that the BJP has sidelined its founder leaders Atal Bijari Vajpayee, L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi by dropping them from the Parliamentary Board and said they are "guides and philosophers" for the party.

"This question does not arise. They - party founders Atal Behari Vajpayee, L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi - are guides and philosophers of ours," Chouhan, here to woo investors for the Global Investors Meet to be held in Madhya Pradesh in October, told reporters.

Marking a radical generational shift, BJP had yesterday dropped Vajpayee, Advani and Joshi from the BJP Parliamentary Board, the highest decision-making body headed by BJP President Amit Shah.

In a token gesture, however, BJP included their names in the five member "Margdarshak Mandal" (Guiding Group).

"The veteran leaders who spent their entire lives in building the party will continue to be our guides and philosophers. It is because of them lakhs of party workers have come up in life. Even in future, the government and the Sanghathan, will seek guidance from them," Chouhan added.

Asked to comment on a Supreme Court's suggestion that the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers should desist from inducting corrupt ministers into the cabinet, Chouhan said, "From the very beginning our stand on it has been clear. To include such people facing criminal and corrupt charges into the cabinet is not good."

In a strong message, the Supreme Court today said Prime Minister and Chief Ministers should desist from making such appointments and act in "national interest".