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BJP to set up co-ordination panel to tackle Jaya

The Bharatiya Janata Party seems to be rattled by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham general secretary J Jayalalitha's demands.

On Tuesday, hours after launching a major mission to tackle Jayalalitha, the BJP decided to set up the overdue co-ordination committee.

To be formed on the lines of the United Front steering committee, the BJP-led coalition's panel will include members from all the alliance partners.

The major difference, according to Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Jaswant Singh, is that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will chair it. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister was the convener of the UF steering committee.

Vajpayee promised to constitute the co-ordination committee immediately after a meeting of the BJP leadership with the allies, where the coalition's national agenda was cleared. That was before the coalition assumed office at the Centre.

The committee is to ensure the smooth functioning of the coalition.

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