The next BJP chief for Punjab could be decided in the core group meeting of the party in New Delhi on February 6. BJP President Amit Shah has called the meeting where the finalisation of the next State unit president is likely as the BJP wants to take a call at the earliest to end the uncertainty in party ranks on the issue.
Sources in the party said BJP President Amit Shah wants to make the party fighting fit for the next year's assembly polls and this could be possible only if all the factions are brought on the same page.
The party is apparently working on a comprehensive package to pacify all the dissidents in the state unit. The party high command is expected to finalise the name of state president, with the expected reshuffle in the ministers of the party in Punjab Cabinet.
For the post of President, present incumbent Kamal Sharma is a strong contender with two ex-presidents Ashwani Sharma and Avinash Rai Khanna also in the race. Various permutations and combinations are being worked out in the party.
In the first scenario, Kamal Sharma may be retained on the post of party President and Ashwani Sharma may be taken in the state cabinet and Avinash Rai Khanna may again be sent to Rajya Sabha.
The other option is to make Khanna the state unit chief and include Kamal Sharma in party’s central unit in the team of Amit Shah and later send him to Rajya Sabha. In this formula also, Ashwani Sharma is likely to be offered a cabinet berth and may also be offered the post of leader of the legislature party.
The core group is also likely to finalize the composition of BJP members in the Punjab Cabinet. Manoranjan Kalia could be inducted in the Cabinet. Som Parkash is also likely to find a place in place of Chuni lal Bhagat.
The proposal of removing Madan Mohan Mittal and Anil Joshi are also being speculated in BJP circles. A decision is likely to be taken later this week.