“I have been elected by the people and chosen by the party to hold this office. I will leave the day my party asks me to,” said Khanduri after returning from Delhi where 22 of the 36 state BJP legislators had gone to seek his ouster. A large number of these dissidents are still camping in Delhi, hoping to get some reassurance about his replacement after the Panchayat polls scheduled next month.

In a late evening interaction with mediapersons, the Chief Minister said, “I will leave the day people feel that I am working for my personal development and not the development of the state or if they feel that I am backtracking from my duties.”

On being asked about the message given to him by the BJP high command, Khanduri said, “The high command feels that we have come to power for the development of the state. We should maintain the reputation of the party and the differences among us should be sorted out amicably.”

“I do not deny the fact that there are differences. But this is nothing new. There are differences between a husband and wife. There are differences within a family. I have always tried to work for sorting out such differences and will continue my efforts,” ha said.

Khanduri denied the allegations that he was not accessible to his ministers and his legislators. “I am always available for them. I am meeting people throughout the day,” he claimed. He also denied that there is a delay in sanctioning development projects in areas of various legislators and ministers.

Asked about the truce with the dissidents, he said, “When there is no fire, where is the ceasefire. I will remove their doubts. I will improve my functioning and do the right things. This is a two-way traffic.”

Responding to the complaints about his style of functioning, the Chief Minister said that his style of working is influenced by his Army background. “I put the good things learnt in the Army to use. But the atmosphere is different outside and the same style of functioning is not the same everywhere. I try to work accordingly.”

On the issue of bureaucrats calling the shots and his staff making him inaccessible to his legislators, Khanduri claimed, “I agree that there are shortcomings in the working of the bureaucrats which are being improved. As regards the question of my staff, we will talk and decide upon the matter. I have no hitch in overcoming my short comings.”

When asked what kind of action he will take against the dissidents, his reply was, “I do not go by injunctions. It is for the party to decide upon matters of discipline.”