<p>Dissension in the Bihar BJP was evident today with three ministers and senior leaders skipping the crucial two-day state executive meeting of the party which was inaugurated by Arun Jaitley here today.<br /><br /></p>.<p>BJP ministers Ashwani Choubey, Chandramohan Rai and Giriraj Singh, Deputy Speaker Amrendra Pratap Singh and former union minister C P Thakur skipped the meeting.<br /><br />Dissension has been simmering in the state BJP with a section of its leaders opposed to Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi 'hijacking' the party venting their grievances to the party central leadership.<br /><br />Thakur and others had met party president Rajnath Singh recently to protest the formation of a party team in the state under Modi's protege Mangal Pandey.<br />Some key leaders had held a meeting last night at the residence of former chairman of the Legislative Council Tarakant Jha.<br /><br />Those who went to Jha's residence included formerC P Thakur, Animal Husbandry Minister Giriraj Singh, Deputy Speaker Amrendra Pratap Singh and senior party leader Satnarayan Arya.<br /><br />But, Arya was spotted at the meet today.When contacted, Amrendra Pratap Singh said he did not attend the meeting due to personal reasons.<br /><br />Thakur, Singh, Choubey and Rai could not be reached as their mobile phones were switched off.<br /><br />State party president Mangal Pandey refused to comment on the absence of ministers and leaders.<br /><br />Seeking to play down the matter, BJP national spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters "these leaders are busy with some programmes and will be coming tomorrow."</p>
<p>Dissension in the Bihar BJP was evident today with three ministers and senior leaders skipping the crucial two-day state executive meeting of the party which was inaugurated by Arun Jaitley here today.<br /><br /></p>.<p>BJP ministers Ashwani Choubey, Chandramohan Rai and Giriraj Singh, Deputy Speaker Amrendra Pratap Singh and former union minister C P Thakur skipped the meeting.<br /><br />Dissension has been simmering in the state BJP with a section of its leaders opposed to Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi 'hijacking' the party venting their grievances to the party central leadership.<br /><br />Thakur and others had met party president Rajnath Singh recently to protest the formation of a party team in the state under Modi's protege Mangal Pandey.<br />Some key leaders had held a meeting last night at the residence of former chairman of the Legislative Council Tarakant Jha.<br /><br />Those who went to Jha's residence included formerC P Thakur, Animal Husbandry Minister Giriraj Singh, Deputy Speaker Amrendra Pratap Singh and senior party leader Satnarayan Arya.<br /><br />But, Arya was spotted at the meet today.When contacted, Amrendra Pratap Singh said he did not attend the meeting due to personal reasons.<br /><br />Thakur, Singh, Choubey and Rai could not be reached as their mobile phones were switched off.<br /><br />State party president Mangal Pandey refused to comment on the absence of ministers and leaders.<br /><br />Seeking to play down the matter, BJP national spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters "these leaders are busy with some programmes and will be coming tomorrow."</p>