DEHRADUN/GAIRSAIN: An urgent meeting of the BJP core committee was convened in Dehradun on Saturday evening. Party MLAs in the midst of the budget session at Gairsain were called back to the state capital triggering rumours of “major changes” in the government and a possible replacement “at the highest level” ahead of assembly polls next year.
The core committee meeting, which went on for over two hours, was presided over by BJP national vice-president Raman Singh and state in-charge Dushyant Kumar Gautam.
The two members were said to have been sent by the central party leadership to get feedback after reports that over a dozen MLAs were not happy with the current leadership. CM Trivendra Singh Rawat spoke to TOI about the meeting.
“A positive momentum has been broken. What more can I say? Raman Singhji met the MLAs and took their feedback. I had a word with him too and discussed issues related to the state. After the meeting, he came to my residence where there were around 20 to 22 MLAs. Later, 45 legislators came to my residence for discussion.”
Earlier, BJP state chief Bansidhar Bhagat had shot down speculation of a leadership change, saying the meeting was mainly to talk about preparations of the fourth anniversary celebrations of the Rawat government on March 18. Sources told TOI that the meeting was “not a regular one merely to discuss anniversary celebrations” as most MLAs weren’t even aware of it till Friday.
The summons to MLAs saw an abrupt end to budget session on Saturday and the House was adjourned sine die. Sources said Raman Singh had one-on-one discussions with two LS MPs, Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah and Ajay Bhatt, and many MLAs.
Former CM Vijay Bahuguna also attended the meeting. Union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank made an unscheduled visit to Dehradun in the evening and met Singh and Dushyant Kumar Gautam. The two central members may submit a report to BJP chief JP Nadda shortly.
(With inputs from Akhilesh Singh in Delhi)