CHANDIGARH – Some BJP ministers have complained to BJP’s Punjab affairs in charge Ram Shanker Katheria that they have not been given “complete” charge of their ministries. Katheria reportedly told them that the BJP did not want to walk out of the SAD-BJP government in the immediate future as this would amount to “murder of democracy.”
Only two leaders, one from Pathankot and the other from Hoshiarpur, reportedly spoke in favour of the SAD-BJP alliance during their meeting with Katheria. They argued that the alliance was necessary to ensure communal harmony in the state. Reliable sources said Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal held a closed-door meeting with these two leaders yesterday. The latter wield considerable influence in their areas and are invariably consulted by the SAD leadership on postings, transfers and projects in their areas.
Katheria, during his two-day visit to Punjab, met core committee members, district presidents and MLAs separately. He was reportedly told by a number of party leaders that elections in the state should be held before 2017 so that the party could take advantage of the “Modi wave.”
Katheria, who has prepared a report card on the functioning of the BJP ministers, did not hint at any reshuffle at this juncture when the party is preparing for the Delhi Assembly elections.
