CHANDIGARH – Stung by its below-par performance in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections, which saw stalwart Arun Jaitley being defeated in Amritsar, the BJP’s core group met here and set up a committee which will look into the reasons for the setback and suggest measures to revive the party in the state.
The core group, which consists of sitting and former state presidents, heads of the legislative wing in the state and state office-bearers, was of the view that anti-incumbency against the SAD-BJP Government and against certain Akali leaders had an adverse impact on the party’s performance.
The committee report will be taken up with the BJP’s central leadership and the SAD for corrective measures. Sources said the leaders spoke in favour of the BJP assuming a more assertive role and taking the SAD head-on on public issues, even if it offended the SAD.
The BJP in charge of Punjab affairs, Shanta Kumar, attended the meeting which lasted three hours. State BJP president Kamal Sharma said no deadline had been set for the committee to submit its report.
