BJP strives to decide strategy on Maharashtra

NEW DELHI, Oct 16 (UNI): The Bharatiya Janata Party today admitted that it had expected a larger number of seats in the Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Party leader Arun Jaitley was answering questions after an emergency meeting at former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's residence to discuss the emerging political scenario in Maharashtra.

Another meeting is on to discuss the strategy of the party in the state.

The earlier meeting, which lasted 90 minutes, had taken stock of the situation in Maharashtra and decided to finalise its strategy only after all the results to the 288-member state assembly were out, senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj told reporters.

Jaya Lambasts Sonia's picture replacing that of Ambedkar NEW DELHI, Oct 16 (UNI): Former Samata Party Chief Jaya Jaitly today charged the Congress with having insulted all self-respecting Indians by allegedly replacing the portrait of the maker of the Indian Constitution Babasaheb Ambedkar with a picture of UPA leader and Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi in the panel of pictures in the Speaker's Hall of the Constitutional Club here.

Jaitly said she was shocked to see Sonia's photograph alongside the pictures of the President, the Prime Minister and the First President of the country Rajendra Prasad.

The fourth picture which was replaced to adjust that of Sonia was of Babadaheb Ambedkar, she claimed.

The Congress President's picture was found prominently placed facing the podium in the Speaker's hall replacing the portrait of Dr Ambedkar hurting the sentiments of all self respecting Indians including Dalits, she alleged.

Jaitly said Sonia's picture was later removed by "self respecting Indians" who were there to attend the second international convention for the restoration of democracy in Burma.

Her picture was removed as the Congress Chief had no locus standi to be placed alongside the President and Prime Minister of India or next to the towering Leaders like Late Rajendra Prasad and makers of Constitution Dr Ambedkar, she added.