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BJYM leader's 'girgit' remark sparks row

Bhopal: State president of BJYM, the youth wing of BJP, Abhilash Pandey’s remarks that ‘some people change their colours like a chameleon (girgit),’ has cooked up quite a storm within the BJP.

Pandey later retracted his statement, saying he was commenting on the officials, but the Congress seized this opportunity to hit back at BJP, alleging that the saffron party has become a divided house after losing elections in the state.



During a youth workers’ rally organised in Satna on Thursday, Pandey had said without naming anybody, “There are some people who change their colours better than a girgit (chameleon). They try to get benefits from both the parties, but now people know them very well.”

Sources in BJP disclosed that Pandey had indirectly attacked party MLA from Maihar, Narayan Tripathi, who has switched loyalties often. He had joined Congress from Samajwadi Party and later jumped to BJP bandwagon, resigning as Congress MLA in 2013.

This year in July, Tripathi along with MLA from Beohari, Sharad Kol, had supported Congress government in the assembly during voting for an amendment bill and had also hinted to join his old party in the presence of chief minister Kamal Nath. But, a formal decision was postponed, fearing loss of membership in Vidhan Sabha. Tripathi is also known for his bitter relations with the Lok Sabha member from Satna, Ganesh Singh, and other district office-bearers of BJP.

However, when contacted, Pandey told TOI, “I had commented on the officials who had been supporting BJP leaders during the saffron rule, but changed their loyalties during the Congress regime. I was not targeting BJP MLA Tripathi. My statement was distorted.”

The ruling Congress, though, took an opportunity to hit out at the BJP and said that it is divided into four groups in MP. “Pandey's statement was loud and clear. He attacked MLA Tripathi to support BJP leaders of Satna. But, fearing a retaliation, he retracted his remarks. BJP is facing groupism across the state after losing the assembly elections. The leaders have no faith in their state leadership; they only care for their own interests,” alleged Congress state spokesperson, JP Dhanopia.

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