Joshi expected to continue as PAC chief

The BJP Parliamentary Party, at its weekly meeting here, discussed the impending elections to PAC and Parliamentary Standing Committees which will be held between March 21 and 25.

The PAC chairperson is chosen for one year and Joshi's term was to expire on April 30. Since this post is fixed for the principal opposition, Joshi is all set to be elected unopposed. BJP has two other seats from the Lok Sabha in the PAC.

Since some of Standing Committees are likely to have elections, BJP has asked its legislators to be present in Parliament.

"All MPs have been ordered to be present in Parliament from March 21 to 25. During this time the elections to the Standing Committee on Finance and others will be held," BJP Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde told reporters.

The strategy for BJP's nation-wide agitation against corruption in the Congress-led government was also discussed at the meeting.

Party general secretary Ananth Kumar asked the MPs to make preparations for the "Jan jagran" (people's awakening) rallies at district, mandal and village levels.

"These programmes will be held from April 6 to June 15. Padyatras, marathons, rallies and public meetings will be organised during this agitation against government failure to check corruption and price rise," Munde said.