With an eye on the 2019 lok Sabha polls and State Assembly polls, Bharatiya Janta Party president Amit Shah would visit Haryana for three days next month and hold a series of meetings to review the performance of Manohar lal Khattar-led first BJP Government in the State.
Shah’s visit to Haryana is a part of his country-wide tour which began in April to strategise and find ways to strengthen the party at the grass-root level before 2019 elections. The BJP chief had visit Chandigarh in May and is now scheduled to stay in Haryana from August 2 to 4.
“During his three days visit to Haryana, Amit Shah would review the works undertaken by the State Government and lay out the strategy for future course of action by analysing the steps being taken to strengthen the organisation in the State,” said state BJP chief Subhash Barala.
On the first day of his visit, Shah would hold a review meeting with the Chief Minister and Cabinet Ministers to take stock of implementation of the schemes related to the welfare of poor strata of society. Discussion would also be held on the targets to be achieved by the Government, said Barala.
later, a meeting would be held with associates of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Shah’s meeting with BJP MPs and MlAs is also scheduled to be held on August 2.
Barala added the BJP national chief would meet State office-bearers on August 3 and discuss organisational structure and activities and leave for Delhi the next day.
In view of Shah’s Haryana visit, the BJP State unit has convened a meeting on July 26 and 27 to review preparations for the visit of party national president.
Notably, the BJP Government under Manohar lal in Haryana has completed first half of its five years tenure in the State. During its tenure, the BJP Government has attracted sharp criticism from its own MlAs and opposition as well for the sluggish pace of implementation of CM’s announcements and other works.
Known for the promotion of Gita, Saraswati and the cow, the State Government has also remained under attack from the opposition for pursuing the RSS agenda in education - manifested in the introduction of Gita “shlokas” and moral science booklets besides introducing yoga in schools. Besides, the State Government’s failure to deal with Jat quota agitation 2016 had hit the national headlines.
Shah’s visit to Haryana also assumes significance as the BJP State unit is suffering due to factionalism. The infighting and voice of dissent within the State party unit has dented the image of BJP-led Haryana Government in the past few months.
Over a dozen “rebel” MlAs in BJP have time and again aired their grievances at public platforms against their own Government.
During a series of meetings with party central leadership during March, the rebelling Haryana MlAs had registered a complaint against the bureaucracy, slow pace of development works, pending announcements of Chief Minister among other issues.
The meetings held with Amit Shah and Haryana BJP incharge Anil Jain had also given rise to speculation that the state would soon have a Deputy Chief Minister to pacify the rebels. However, any such move was later denied by the party leaders.
So far, the efforts of party high command had not met with success in dousing the rebel trouble in Haryana BJP unit.