Look into shortcomings: Vajpayee to BJP

NEW DELHI: Hurt by the exit of senior leaders, including former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi from the party, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Tuesday advocated the need for free expression and understanding the shortcomings within the party.

In a related development, the party also decided to hold in the national capital the first meeting of the coordination committees (between the organisation and the Government) in party-ruled states as also where it share power.

In his valedictory remarks at the party's national executive meeting here, Vajpayee said though not many leaders had left the party, the issue of some leaders leaving it also needed to be looked into.

"If people are not able to express their deep feelings in the atmosphere we create, then we should realise there is something amiss," he said.

Vajpayee said while the party-ruled state Governments were functioning well, the effort should be to ensure that they were re-elected.

"There should be good coordination between the Government and the organisation. In some states, we are part of coalition Governments. This is a far more difficult task. Our aim should be to expand the party and let the Government go forward," he said.

Vajpayee's remarks assume significance as both Uma Bharti and Marandi had left the party protesting against being ignored by party-ruled Governments. Both the leaders had also complained against the inefficacy of coordination committees in their respective states.