Saffron party’s pro-Jakhar signalling on crucial day
Despite his lingering anxieties with the BJP-led Centre’s approach and policy towards Punjab, the party on Thursday sent a massive pro-Sunil Jakhar signal, placing him at vantage points on a crucial day in the history of the saffron family.
It was a day when the party’s government took oath in Haryana after registering a record hat-trick and a conclave of ruling National Democratic Alliance CMs and deputy CMs was held in Chandigarh.
Earlier in the day, Jakhar was seen receiving Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Chandigarh airport with Modi holding his hand in a gesture of reassurance and warmth and engaging him in a conversation.
Later in the day, Jakhar took the lead in welcoming chief ministers and deputy chief ministers of the NDA-ruled states as they assembled at Hotel Lalit for a rare NDA assembly.
Standing by Jakhar’s side was the powerful BJP general secretary in charge of Bihar Vinod Tawde, who is currently also overseeing the party’s ongoing membership drive.
Tawde was seen handing over stoles to Jakhar who was then tasked with presenting these to arriving dignitaries, including CMs Bhupender Patel, Mohan Yadav and Pushkar Dhami, and deputy CMs of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis.
This was the first occasion in over a month that Jakhar not only attended a major BJP event, but was also given a prominent place on the dais by being given the charge to lead the reception committee for CMs.
These signals come at a time when Jakhar has openly spoken his mind to PM Modi and his deputy Amit Shah on the need to alter the policy towards Punjab and at a time when the party has entered the organisational poll process with the appointment of a national election officer.
Half of the state units will now see elections and a change of guard, a prerequisite before the national president’s election can be held.
It remains to be seen if Jakhar, who has been voicing anxieties over the manner of working of the party organisation in Punjab, especially in relation to general secretary organisation Mantri Srinivasulu (an RSS hand) is retained as Punjab state chief of the BJP or replaced.
