Sumitra Mahajan

Ranchi, March 27: With all BJP leaders of consequence away on a pilgrimage to Ajmer, the party?s national vice-president in charge of Jharkhand, Sumitra Mahajan, was today left to fend for herself.

New to the state, like the AICC in-charge of Jharkhand, Begum Noor Bano, Mahajan?s longest stay here was three days when she attended the national executive meeting last year. But when she flew in this afternoon to oversee arrangements for party president Rajnath Singh?s Bharat Ekta aur Suraksha Yatra, she had a tough time answering the questions posed by the newsmen.

The party president would be entering the state from Chattisgarh on April 10, she informed, and reach Ranchi the same evening. The yatra will resume after a two-day break and will leave for Bihar.

Mahajan was at a loss for words when asked why the entire government had left the state to go on a ?joyride?. Before she could answer, a volley of questions was directed at her over the contentious office of profit issue. She was forced to admit that the party was yet to chalk out a coherent response on the issue.

Mahajan, however, recovered enough to launch the predictable attack on Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her alleged sacrifice. She also condemned the conduct of the Opposition in the state Assembly when the controversial Jharkhand Legislature (Removal of Disqualification) Bill was passed last week.

Since the bill had been passed, declared the BJP vice-president, there was no threat to the Arjun Munda government, and no NDA legislator would lose his seat.

Mahajan was quick to confess though that she was not aware of the developments in the state. ?But let me assure you, you will not have such complaints in future,? she added as a parting shot.