Ahead of the lok Sabha polls and learning from the debacle in Assembly elections, Himachal BJP is all set to make major changes in the State unit, after approval from central leadership.
State BJP chief Satpal Satti and party’s organisation secretary Pawan Rana had gone to Delhi in the middle of the budget session to meet BJP’s national president Rajnath Singh in order to seek his consent to go ahead with revamping exercise in the party.
Party’s central leadership had reposed faith in young leadership of Satti, despite of debacle in Assembly elections and he was given second term as State president earlier this month. Satti is a three-time MlA from Una.
Sources said that the changes will be in accordance with the team that would go for the lok Sabha election.
Himachal Pradesh has four parliamentary seats and history suggests that whichever party is in power in State, bags the majority in parliamentary seats.
The new team of Satti is likely to be announced by the end of the month after BJP national president Rajnath Singh announces his team at Delhi.
It was on the insistence of Satti that the party had given ticket to 22 new faces in Assembly elections and over dozen candidates managed to make it to Assembly for the first time.
Party sources said that Satti is likely to replace the three party general secretaries and spokesperson in the new team with more dynamic leaders having good managerial and organisational skills.
Shri Naina Deviji legislator Randhir Sharma could be one of the new general secretaries. Nahan legislator Dr Rajiv Bindal credited for breaking the Congress bastion Sirmour and having good organisational skills could be retained.
Bindal has always been on target of Congress and had to quit former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal’s Cabinet over allegations of corruption leveled on him from Congress as well as from BJP national vice president Shanta Kumar and his camp.
He was made the party general secretary ahead of Assembly polls.
Former Sulah legislator Bipn Singh Parmar could also be made party’s General Secretary. Party’s State vice president Praveen Sharma could be made in-charge for the media.
Apart from this, the party will for the first time appoint separate spokespersons for the four parliamentary segments of Mandi, Shimla, Kangra and Hamirpur.
Sources said that current party spokesperson — Ganesh Dutt is likely to be inducted as one of the vice presidents amongst the eight posts of vice president. Many of former ministers could be given new responsibilities in the party. New faces from Kangra district will find place in the organisation. Satpal Satti is likely to change the presidents of frontal organisations of the party entrusting responsibilities to dynamic and hard working individuals.
Focusing on the youth, the party is likely to reshuffle its 90 members’ State executive. Sources maintained that there will be minor changes in the party’s core group, comprising of senior and experienced leaders.