BJP veterans Vajpayee, Advani and Joshi can never be sidelined: Chouhan

Bangalore: Rejecting reports that the ruling BJP has sidelined its patriarchs Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said that they are guides and philosophers for the party and can never be ignored.

Chouhan, who was in Bangalore to woo investors for the Global Investors Meet to be held in Madhya Pradesh in October told reporters that the BJP has included the party veterans' names in 'Margdarshak Mandal' (guiding group) where they will continue to act as guides and philosophers for the party..

Chouhan, under whose leadership the party registered its third consecutive victory in the state, has been rewarded with a membership in the party's parliamentary board. Besides him, BJP national general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP JP Nadda has also been included in the party's highest decision-making body.

The 12 members of the BJP parliamentary board are Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Arun Jailtey, Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari, Venkaiah Naidu, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Thawarchand Gehlotm, Ananth Kumar, JP Nadda and Ramlal.

Furthermore, when 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". 

(With PTI inputs)