Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service
Shimla, November 13
Two senior state Cabinet ministers met national BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda in New Delhi today, creating ripples in political circles. There is speculation of a possible Cabinet reshuffle against the backdrop of the BJP's defeat in the four byelections recently.
Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Minister Mahender Singh and Technical Education Minister Ram Lal Markanda separately met Nadda. The development comes before the State BJP Executive meeting scheduled for November 22, where the ruling party is bound to look into the reasons for the defeat in the byelections.
Minister got votes polled for Cong: Bragta
- Chetan Bragta, who fought the byelection as an Independent from Jubbal-Kotkhai, on Saturday alleged that a senior minister got the BJP votes polled in favour of the Congress to ensure his defeat
- The BJP candidate from Fatehpur has blamed the minister, who was the in-charge of the bypoll, for his defeat
- These developments are taking place at a time when the BJP is yet to review its performance in the four byelections
- The demand for action against those who undercut the party's votes is gaining momentum
"While Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur is yet to go to Delhi to meet the top party leadership, the two ministers' visit to Delhi has created ripples in political circles," said a senior BJP leader. There has been an inordinate delay in ascertaining the reasons for the party's defeat in the four byelections, he added.
It is being said that the two ministers clarified their positions in view of the BJP's defeat in the byelections. It has been reliably learnt that Mahender Singh, who was the in-charge for the Mandi Lok Sabha bypoll, explained his position with regard to the party's loss; the BJP lost the parliamentary seat though it had won it by a record margin of 3.98 lakh votes in the 2019 elections.
As the BJP failed to get a lead in any tribal seat, including Lahaul and Spiti represented by Markanda, he, too, likely clarified his position to the top leaders. The BJP did not get a lead in Kinnaur, Bharmour and Lahaul and Spiti.
Meanwhile, the finger is being pointed at ministers for working against the party's official candidates. Chetan Bragta, son of former minister Narinder Bragta, who fought the byelection as an Independent candidate from the Jubbal-Kotkhai Assembly, today alleged that a senior minister got the BJP votes polled in favour of the Congress to ensure his defeat.
The BJP candidate from Fatehpur has blamed another minister, who was the in-charge of Fatehpur, for his defeat. These developments are taking place at a time when the BJP is yet to review its performance in the four byelections. The demand for action against those who undercut the party's votes is gaining momentum.
Courtesy: Tribune News Service
