Dehradun: Amidst growing dissident activities in the ruling BJP in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister B C Khanduri has removed his media advisor Rajendra Pant, an RSS functionary.

Pant, who is being seen as close to former Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, is being sent back to Vidhan Sabha where he was earlier PRO to the speaker, official sources said here today.

Pant, along with three other RSS functionaries, were given key slots in the CM s office soon after Khanduri took over the reigns of the state last year.

RSS sources also claimed that attempts are being made to sideline other two functionaries Rajesh Sethi, a PRO and Chandrashekhar Upadhayay, an OSD in the CM s office.

"Both Sethi and Upadhayay are not being given any work these days," a RSS leader complained.

Significantly, the removal of Pant came soon after media reports that a group of MLAs owing allegiance to Koshiyari sought removal of P K Sarangi, the Principal Secretary to the CM.

The MLAs have been demanding the removal of Sarangi since he faced the ire of the main opposition Congress. During the past one year, Congress party had organized a series of protest demonstrations against Sarangi.

Meanwhile, the state BJP has asked the party high command to nominate a candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from the hill state amid reports that dissident leader Koshiyari was not interested in the offer.

By sending Koshiyari, an MLA from Kapkot, the BJP was trying to end dissident activities in the party that have mounted since August.

BJP was taken aback last month after 17 MLAs owing allegiance to Koshiyari had sent their resignations to BJP President Rajnath Singh.
Source : PTI