Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, October 26
After a defeat in the Gurdaspur byelection, knives are out between state BJP president Vijay Sampla and RSS state unit incharge Dinesh Kumar.
Kumar is the state general secretary (organisation) of the party, who is appointed by the national leadership in consultation with the Rashtriya Jan Sangh. His role is to ensure coordination between the BJP and the RSS.
Party sources said Kumar had skipped the state BJP’s crucial meeting held in Chandigarh recently to review the bypoll performance. They said Sampla didn’t have any prior information regarding Kumar’s inability to attend the meeting. A former state president of the party, who was present in the meeting, said when Sampla was apprised of the absence, he expressed his displeasure, saying that he should have been informed in advance.
The sources said the hostility between two started from the day Sampla was appointed the state president. They said Kumar wanted another leader from Majha for the post.
Their hostility turned even bitter when Ashwini Sharma was appointed incharge of the Gurdaspur byelection and Sampla remained out of the crucial planning meetings that used to take place between BJP’s Punjab affairs incharge Prabhat Jha, Swaran Salaria, Dinesh Kumar and Ashwini Sharma in Pathankot every day.
The sources said Kumar had stayed away from the meeting, anticipating harsh criticism over the bypoll loss. They said besides blaming its ally Akali Dal’s image and the Congress government’s “pressure tactics”, the BJP leaders accepted “mismanagement” shown by the party leadership during the campaign.
When contacted, Kumar said he had intimated the organisation people regarding his inability to attend the meeting as he had been called by BJP president Amit Shah for an important meeting.
Sampla could not be contacted in spite of repeated attempts.
