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Pune ex-MP Anna Joshi quits BJP

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader from Pune and former MP Anna Joshi on Wednesday resigned from the party and announced his decision to contest as an Independent candidate as a ''representative of Pune''.

Even after formally resigning from the party, Joshi told reporters at a hurriedly convened press conference that '' the doors for negotiation with the BJP leadership were open''.

Joshi -- who claimed that his resignation was not a rebellion against the party since ''the RSS is in my blood and I still consider Atal Bihari Vajpayee as my leader and will continue to extend my support in his becoming the future prime minister'' -- said his resignation was to ''register my protest towards the changing situation and the emergence of a new culture in which Suresh Kalmadi functions''.

EARLIER REPORT:
Sena-BJP to support Kalmadi, but only if he damns Cong, Pawar in writing

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