Dehradun: The sudden meeting of the Uttarakhand BJP’s core group and the presence of party vice-president and state in-charge Dushyant Gautam as central observer has sparked speculation of some major changes in the state government, raising the political mercury.
The two central leaders returned to Delhi after separate meetings. According to information received from sources, Raman Singh and Dushyant Gautam will submit their report to BJP President JP Nadda about the talks with MLAs and MPs.
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This meeting of the main unit of the state unit was not already proposed and was called at a time when the important budget session of the state assembly was going on in the new summer capital of the state, Garsen. On receiving the information of the meeting, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had to immediately return to Dehradun from Garsen. Soon after the budget was passed, the session was also adjourned sine die and BJP MLAs were also immediately called to Dehradun. The core group meeting lasted for more than two hours.
Party sources said that Raman Singh spoke to every member present in the core group meeting separately. Later Raman Singh also went to the official residence of the Chief Minister where about 40 MLAs of the party were present. Singh also went to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s office after the core group meeting. Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank was also supposed to attend the core group meeting but for some reason he could not reach. However, before Raman Singh returned to Delhi, Nishank met him at the Jolly Grant Airport here. This rapidly declining development in the state fueled speculation of a leadership change. It is rumored that the central leadership is considering Rawat’s options.
One MLA, on the condition of anonymity, said that central observers also asked him about Rawat’s option. Sources in the state BJP said that there was a complaint with the central leadership that Rawat’s functioning and governance were not heard. Observers have also consulted legislators on this. Party sources in Delhi said that since the state assembly elections are being held in five states, the central leadership of the party will also consider how the leadership change will be affected in Uttarakhand.