New Delhi : BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Saturday voiced hope that the newly-formed Arjun Munda government "will deliver", even as he and senior leaders like L K Advani skipped the swearing-in ceremony amidst reports of differences in the party over joining hands again with the JMM.
"I congratulate you on my behalf as well as on behalf of the BJP rank and file throughout the country on being sworn-in as Chief Minister of Jharkhand," Gadkari, who had favoured a patch-up with the JMM, said in a letter to Munda.
"It was my keen desire to be present at your swearing-in today, but due to Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at my house in Nagpur, I am unable to join other senior BJP leaders in sharing the party's success in ending President's rule," he said.
A faction of BJP, which included Advani, was not keen to have JMM as a coalition partner after the two parted ways when the Shibu Soren-led outfit sided with the UPA during cut motions moved in Parliament by the main opposition party.
Leaders who decided to opt out of attending Munda's oath-taking ceremony including Advani and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley visited party spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain at his official residence here on the occassion of Eid.
When confronted with the Jharkhand issue, Advani wished media persons a happy Eid and Ganesh Chaturthi.
Advani was against BJP forming a coalition government with JMM as he was unhappy with the past experience with the Shibu Soren's party.
Gadkari also added in the letter "BJP has always insisted on striving to give a high quality governance in the states it is ruling. I am confident that your government will offer a 'government that delivers' to the people of Jharkhand."
He said development and threat of Naxalism were the twin challenges that the state was facing and hoped that Munda's team will help tackle them effectively.
42-year-old Munda was today sworn in as Jharkhand Chief Minister heading a BJP-JMM coalition.
AJSU chief Sudesh Mahto and JMM leader Hemant Soren, son of former chief minister Shibu Soren, were also sworn in at the ceremony. PTI
