BJP steers clear of Munde controversy

The BJP Saturday steered clear of the controversy over its leader Gopinath Munde's reported remarks that he had spent Rs.8 crore for his poll campaign in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, saying it was a matter between him and the poll panel.

"It is between Shri Munde and the election commission," Bharatiya Janata Party leader Murli Manohar Joshi said replying to queries from the media.

There is speculation that the poll panel will seek a reply from Munde over his remarks.
Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil had Friday demanded action against Munde for confessing that he spent Rs.8 crore for his poll campaign in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

Patil, who is from the Nationalist Congress Party, had sarcastically congratulated Munde for his "truthfulness and honesty" and said he expected the election commission to take note of the confessions by the BJP's deputy leader in the Lok Sabha.