After Uttarakhand, it’s Himachal Pradesh where the BJP is desperately trying to stem growing infighting. The BJP top brass summoned Himachal Pradesh chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and party’s national vice-president Shanta Kumar amidst reports of growing dissidence against Mr Dhumal and formation of a political outfit in the state by some dissident leaders. Mr Gadkari met both the leaders late on Wednesday night and asked them to mend their differences and work together for the party’s benefit, sources disclosed. Some of the dissident leaders, who formed Himachal Pradesh Lokhit Party, are considered close to Mr Kumar. Sensing the gravity of the situation, the BJP top brass also set up a two-member committee comprising of national general secretary J.P. Nadda and national secretary Shyam Jaju to submit a report on the matter. Assembly polls in the state are likely to be held by the end of this year.
Sources said Mr Kumar had complained to the BJP top brass against Mr Dhumal’s “autocratic” rule in the state. Mr Kumar, it was learnt, had blamed Mr Dhumal for growing rebellion in the party.
On Thursday, it was Uttarakhand CM B.C. Khanduri who met Mr Gadkari to complaint against some party leaders who tried to “sabotage” party’s prospects in the hill state which is awaiting Assembly poll results.
Mr Khanduri also met BJP parliamentary party chief L.K. Advani. Mr Khanduri’s predecessor Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank had met Mr Gadkari and other senior leaders earlier this week to protest over attempts by a section of party leaders to make him a scapegoat if the party fails to retain power. There are allegations that Mr Nishank, who was removed over corruption charges, has been sulking since then and had supported many party rebels who contested the Assembly polls. Mr Nishank denied these allegations.