MLC support not discussed in meeting with CM: Rana

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 28: Political Advisor to Chief Minister Devender Singh Rana today said while the National Conference appreciates Prof Chaman Lal Gupta and six other legislators if they have offered to extend their  support to the National Conference in the Legislative Council elections but said they can only accept their support if it is extended to both candidates of the coalition including Sham Lal Bhagat of the Congress and Dr Shahnaz Ganai of the National Conference.
The Political Advisor denying media reports further said that the issues of the ensuing Legislative Council elections was not even discussed in the meeting between the Chief Minister and six legislators wherein only certain developmental issues were raised by the legislators.
Meanwhile, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta said they had sought appointment with the Chief Minister and they met him yesterday to discuss their constituency related and development issues.
He said they were yet to make up their mind on extending support to any political party for the MLC elections.
He said the issue of support to the NC candidates didn’t figure in the meeting.
MLA Bani Master Lal Chand, who didn’t meet the Chief Minister yesterday along with six other BJP rebels, said he would not support NC or Congress candidates for the election.
Meanwhile, Excelsior Bureau Chief, Sanjeev Pargal, who had filed the story on BJP rebel legislators’ meeting with the Chief Minister and subsequent issues, stood by his report.
The report, he said, was based on the briefing of the BJP rebel MLAs and filed after cross-checks at various levels.