PATNA: Making evident their disapproval of the Congress high command's decision to oust BPCC chief Ashok Choudhary , at least 26 of the 27 party MLAs skipped the function in which newly-appointed working president Kaukab Quadri assumed charge on Wednesday. This assumes significance as Choudhary needs the support of 18 MLAs to overcome the anti-defection law.While only MLA Siddharth attended the event at state Congress HQ, at least 15 MLAs and MLCs visited Choudhary at his residence to express solidarity with him. "It would not be proper to reveal names of the MLAs who met Choudhary," a close aide of the sacked party chief told TOI.Peeved at his "unceremonious removal", Choudhary told reporters that he never expected to be removed in this manner. "The unceremonious removal of a dalit person, whose two generations worked for strengthening Congress in Bihar, is very insulting and unfortunate," he said.Quadri said it was the same Congress which made him the party president and minister. Before assuming charge, Quadri called on Sadanand Singh, the Congress legislature party leader in assembly, at his residence.

Source: Times of India September 27, 2017 21:45 UTC