Barring Nirmal, fate of all BJP Ministers uncertain

JAMMU: With a possible exception of Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, the fate of all Ministers from Bhartiya Janta Party, who have already been made to resign by the party, appeared uncertain as they the next word the party’s central leadership.

The BJP central leadership, in consultation with Jammu and Kashmir core group, is expected to take a final call on new faces in Mehbooba Mufti cabinet on Monday and the swearing in is likely the next day. Ever since their resignations were obtained on April 16, almost every Minister from the BJP has stayed away from their offices or field works except Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh who is reported to have indications of continuing in the office but with possible change in his portfolios.

The state BJP’s core group is meeting here on Sunday under the chairmanship of party state president, Sat Sharma and general secretary (Organisation) Ashok Koul and will discuss the names of probables. The party’s core group members including Deputy CM Dr Nirmal Singh, MoS PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh, Assembly Speaker Kavinder Gupta, MPs Jugal Kishore and Shamsher Singh Manhas, MLC Ashok Khajuria, party state general secretaries, Pawan Khajuria, Narinder Singh, Harinder Gupta will attend the meeting.

“The final call will be taken by the BJP president, Amit Shah in discussion with general secretary Ram Madhav and party’s state affairs incharge, Avinash Rai Khanna,” said party sources and added that till that nobody can claim the names of new ministers and only speculations are on.