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The reshuffle in the National Democratic Alliance government might bring smiles to some faces, but the ministers who were dropped from the Cabinet were not happy.
A pall of gloom hung over the Tughlak Road bungalow of C P Thakur, who resigned as health minister on Sunday.
"We were not expecting it. It is injustice and all the bhoomihars (Thakur's upper caste community) of Bihar are angry about it," said Kunj Bihari Kumar of Patna.
Kumar, a frequent visitor to Thakur's Delhi residence, said he and other supporters were always welcome to the former minister's home.
"We are hurt by this decision. And the anger is spreading in Bihar. Today, 16 district presidents of BJP in Bihar have resigned in protest," said Keshav Sandeley, president of the party's Patna unit, who was camping along with hundred others at Thakur's residence.
Thakur was busy meeting legislators and MPs from Bihar. The phone was ringing incessantly and even Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan had called on him, one of the staff said.
Apart from the supporters, it was the emotional support from his family that Thakur was banking on.
"He normally stays here alone. But now his family has joined him here," another member of his staff said, adding that Thakur was "looking gloomy".
His son Vivek Thakur, who had flown in from Ahmedabad, said. "I cannot comment on the political decisions. But yes, we have joined him here."
Minister of State for Textiles Dhananjay Kumar, who was personally asked to resign by Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani, was trying hard to smile.
"I was not expecting anything like this. But I have no regrets," he said.
"Advanijee asked [me] to submit my resignation and work for the party. So I did that. I do not know what is my job going to be in the party but I am ready for it," he added.
The mood was sombre at his Jantar Mantar residence. His supporters were calling from his Bangalore constituency.
Minister of Programme Implementation Maneka Gandhi, who also submitted her resignation, had flown to Geneva to attend an animal rights award ceremony.
The Complete Coverage: Cabinet Reshuffle 2002
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