Shimla: Chinks in state unit of BJP have begun to fall apart with the party intending to force the resignation of cabinet minister Rajeev Bindal and chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal’s camp hitting back by demanding action against a dissenting legislator for having demanded a leadership change for mission repeat to succeed in the state.
Speaking to the journalists, party spokesman Ganesh Dutt said, a show cause notice has been issued to Khushi Ram Balnatah for anti party activities.
On Wednesday, a letter written by Balnatah to party president Nitin Gadkari surfaced, in which the BJP legislator from Rohru demanded an immediate change in state leadership as allegations of corruption, nepotism and regionalism were being levelled against the state government”.
“After consulting the party high command, a show cause notice has been issued to Balnatah, a legislator whom the party backed to win the Rohru by-election after having faced four successive defeats,” said Dutt.
When contacted Balnatah reacted, “if demanding corrective measures for betterment of the party is considered anti-party, so be it, but I have committed no offence.
He added that it was a confidential letter written to the party president Gadkari that has been leaked into the media.
Despite mounting pressure from within the party and outside to secure the resignation of health minister Bindal, for chief minister Dhumal, who had once rejected an offer made by him in the Vidhan Sabha during the budget session, the party diktat of appointing the embattled minister as party general secretary is now fait accompali.
To the embarrassment of the chief minister, state party president Satpal Satti on Wednesday announced Bindal being made a party general secretary.
“The ministers abilities are needed for party work as elections are only a few months away, said Satti,” when contacted.
Caught off guard Dhumal reacted , “I have not sought the minister’s resignation.”
With the Dhumal faction and senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar factions at loggerheads, the feuds are spilling into public domain after the party high command has failed to contain the discontent.
Bindal, whose success in implementing a statewide emergency ambulance service has the opposition in a bind said, “after completing my planned official engagements, I will resign by 25th June.”
The chief minister has not sought my resignation, he added, but I’m in the government because of the party, which is the first call of duty.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
As I say Mr. Dhumal will repeat the same what he did in 2003 thats what my understanding of So called Mission Repeat.