Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 24: Reshuffle among the BJP Ministers, though imminent, could take some time as BJP State unit leaders today discussed modalities with BJP’s national general secretary and party’s pointman on Jammu and Kashmir, Ram Madhav but failed to get an appointment from president, Ram Madhav due to his preoccupation in Karnataka Assembly elections.
“The reshuffle will not take place before April 27 i.e. the last day of Civil Secretariat, the seat of the Government, in Jammu. It was now likely to take place after re-opening of the Secretariat in Srinagar, the summer capital of the State, on May 7,” BJP sources told the Excelsior.
They said Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, State BJP president Sat Sharma and organizing secretary Ashok Koul had an hour long meeting with Ram Madhav in New Delhi and discussed various options on inclusion and exclusion of BJP Ministers in the Council of Ministry including certain options (on the reshuffle) before the BJP.
Prior to the meeting with Ram Madhav, the BJP leaders had met another BJP general secretary, Ram Lal and discussed with him the latest political situation in Jammu and Kashmir including reshuffle of the BJP Ministers.
However, according to sources, the BJP leaders’ meeting with party national president Amit Shah didn’t mature as Shah, though back in New Delhi from Karnataka, couldn’t spare time for meeting the State leaders due to his preoccupation with Karnataka Assembly polls.
“Amit Shah’s office conveyed to the BJP leaders to seek meeting with him after two-three days,” sources said, adding the BJP leaders would again visit New Delhi when an appointment is given to them by Shah for discussions on the reshuffle.
Sources said three major issues were discussed in the meeting the BJP leaders’ had with Ram Madhav.
One of the view point was that there should be complete overhaul of the BJP Ministers while another view emerged that the party should only fill the two vacancies, which had arisen after the resignations of Forest Minister Lal Singh and Industry and Commerce Minister Chander Prakash Ganga in view of their support to the demand of CBI probe into Rassana rape-cum-murder of minor Bakerwal girl.
There was a view that if newly inducted faces had to be given Minister of State rank, two sitting MoS could be elevated to Cabinet rank. The third option that was discussed included dropping of two-three Ministers and including four to five new phases in the Council of Ministry as there were already two vacancies.
Sources said a final decision on the available options would be taken only when Amit Shah meets Ram Madhav, Union Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Jitendra Singh and State unit leaders including Dr Nirmal Singh, Sat Sharma and Ashok Koul after few days, which will be followed by the reshuffle. However, the new entrants in the Council of Ministry will have to wait till the re-opening of Civil Secretariat in Srinagar.
Sources said in their meeting with Amit Shah, whenever it matured, the BJP leaders would project all options before him. Shah will take a final call on the available options and only then, the names would be decided for inclusion or exclusion from the Ministry.
Before returning to Jammu, BJP president Sat Sharma met Dr Jitendra Singh in the Union capital and briefed him on political situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
A number of BJP Ministers and legislators including both MLAs and MLCs, who had been camping in New Delhi and had met BJP general secretary (organizations) Ram Lal in the capital lobbying for inclusion in the Council of Ministry, returned today after learning that there was no immediate hope of reshuffle in the Ministry.
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