Shah summons BJP Min's to Delhi, triggers speculations

JAMMU: In a fresh political development, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Amit Shah has called all 11 state BJP ministers, besides other important key party members to New Delhi for an emergency meeting going to be held on Tuesday on present situation in the state, triggering a number of speculations including a possible new governor in state, besides some hard decision concerning the coalition government.

While the party members-still clueless on the agenda of the meeting-have termed it 'a routine affair', the credible sources are also pointing towards assessment of BJP ministers' performance after the recent reshuffle in ministerial berths. The call to New Delhi is also seen as a precursor to Amit Shah's two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir- most likely from June 23 onwards.

Sources in the ruling BJP told The News Now that Shah has not only called all 11 BJP ministers including Deputy CM Kavinder Gupta, all cabinet ministers including Ministers of State, but also the state office bearers of party-- president Ravinder Raina, general secretary (organisation) and three general secretaries.

"Following the present volatile situation which arose during the Ramzan ceasefire, the meeting become significant. Besides, the response of the PDP towards the Kashmir situation may also be one of the reasons behind the meeting," said sources.

The meeting pertains to some "crucial" decision regarding the alliance with PDP in the state, they said.

Importantly, they informed that the report cards of the BJP ministers, especially those inducted in the Mehbooba's council of ministers recently will also be assessed by the party president.

Hence, the emergency meeting called by the party high command for J&K BJP ministers and senior functionaries, said one of the key members, on condition of anonymity.

However, a senior BJP leader, who was also going to participate in the meeting, termed it party's own affairs. "The meeting was "routine" as leaders from Haryana and Rajasthan have also been called to New Delhi," he said.

He was contradicted by credible sources placed higher in the party hierarchy who said that it was a pre-planned meeting for the BJP office bearers.

"The ministers were not in the initial schedule of the meeting and were called in emergency. This development is not something usual," they remarked.

The rumors are also rife the meeting would also witness discussions on the name of the new Governor for the state as incumbent N N Vohra's extended term is coming to an end later this week.

It is also worth mentioning that BJP chief Amit Shah is likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir for two days starting on June 23 and the sudden call to ministers may be connected with his visit.

Sources also indicated that BJP high command is not satisfied with the PDP's overall working in the state, especially in Kashmir to tackle the situation.

"The situation has grown even grimmer after the killings of army jawan Aurangzeb and journalist Shujaat Bukhari and some significant development might be taking place in tomorrow's meeting," they said, adding that it would be one-day meeting in New Delhi, to be chaired by Shah.