BJP divided on office of profit issue

The divisions within BJP on the issue of office of profit came to the fore on Friday at the meeting of its office bearers in New Delhi.

At the over two-hour meeting of the office bearers, leaders were divided on whether BJP should support if the Government comes out with a bill seeking to exempt MPs holding offices of profit from the Disqualification Act, sources said.

While a section led by party General Secretary Arun Jaitley was understood to be the view that BJP should not support any law to exempt the MPs with retrospective effect, others felt it could spell trouble for its government in Jharkhand which enjoys only a razor thin majority.

Asked about Jaitley's statement yesterday that the party was not in favour of any law on office of profit retrospectively, BJP chief Rajnath Singh told reporters "let the Bill come first, then we will give our view".

Ruling out the resignation of any party MP holding offices of profit, the BJP Chief said if any party MP or MLA came within the purview of the Disqualification law, he or she would face the Election Commission and Parliament "if necessary".