There could soon be a Cabinet reshuffle in Haryana to reinvigorate the image of the Manohar lal Khattar Government and appease critics after party’s failure to deal with recent Jat quota agitation.
The BJP Central leadership has decided to evaluate the performance of Haryana Government and its Ministers before taking a final call.
The in-charge of Haryana party affairs, Anil Jain on Tuesday held a series of meetings to review the functioning of the Khattar Government. He held a meeting with all Cabinet Ministers and later, convened a meeting of all BJP MlAs in the presence of Chief Minister and Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala.
Jain took the feedback from the Ministers and MlAs on the functioning of Haryana Government. He also reviewed the progress of flagship programmes, announcements made by Chief Minister and promises made by the party in its election manifesto during Assembly polls.
Sources said that concerned over the rising resentment against the BJP-led State Government and disconnect between several Ministers and Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar following Jat quota stir, the party leadership has discussed the possibility of a reshuffle in the near future.
Under fire from various quarters for failing to control the aggravated situation during the Jat agitation, the beleaguered Manohar lal Khattar Government is currently in damage control mode to soothe frayed tempers of various communities in the State.
The ruling BJP will now face a crucial election test during urban local bodies polls slated to be held on May 22. The Cabinet reshuffle is expected after the polls.
At present, apart from Chief Minister, there are seven Cabinet Ministers, two Ministers of State with Independent charge and three Ministers of State. Also, there are four Chief Parliamentary Secretaries. One more MlA can still be accommodated as a Minister in the council.
The Chief Minister had expanded his Cabinet by inducting three more ministers during July last. The BJP came to power in Haryana for the first time after winning 47 seats in the 90-member assembly in the polls held in October 2014.
After reviewing the performance of BJP led Haryana Government, BJP leader Anil Jain on Tuesday expressed his satisfaction on the working of the Government.
Commenting on the expected Cabinet reshuffle, Jain while talking to the mediapersons said that the Chief Minister would take a decision regarding this.
Not denying the likely Cabinet reshuffle, the BJP leader added that it is the Chief Minister to decide and he has the power to expand his cabinet. A meeting has been held with Cabinet Ministers and another meeting will be held with BJP MlAs and Chief Minister to discuss various issues, he added after holding a meeting with Cabinet Ministers to review government’s performance.
Even as the Manohar lal Khattar Government had appeared powerless to contain the escalating violent agitation of Jats that lasted for almost ten days in February, Jain appreciated the measures to tackle the situation by the Government to restore the law and order situation. “The Government managed to control the deteriorating law and order situation in three days,” said he when asked about government’s failure during Jat quota stir
On taking action against BJP Kurukshetra MP Raj Kumar Saini for issuing controversial statements against Jat community and his own party, Jain said that a notice has already been issued to him and the party’s disciplinary committee will take action against him.
A day after former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda slammed the BJP, terming the case registered against him and others in Associated Journals limited (AJl) case as “revenge politics” by the incumbent Khattar government, Jain hit back at Hooda saying that whatever he did during his tenure in Haryana, more FIRs are likely to be registered against him in the near future.
Jain also took dig at Haryana Janhit Congress merger with the Congress party endorsing Cabinet Minister Anil comments that the result of zero plus zero will be zero.
About the long pending demand of Haryana’s employees to have pay scales on the Punjab pattern, the BJP leader said that the demand will be fulfilled.