Dhumal, Shanta Kumar skip party meeting

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, July 8

The BJP organised a meeting of its office-bearers from across the state at Jwalamukhi in view of the forthcoming parliamentary elections. 

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and state president of BJP Satpal Satti addressed the party workers during the meeting.

Satti said the meeting was attended by district and state officer bearers of all the wings of party in Himachal Pradesh. 

About 400 office-bearers from across the state attended the meeting.

Besides, the Chief Minister senior RSS leaders from the state also attended the BJP office-bearers.

Senior leaders of the party, including former CMs Shanta Kumar and Prem Kumar Dhumal skipped the meeting. 

Dhumal was reportedly away to Delhi while Shanta Kumar did not attend as he was not keeping good health.

During the meeting the Chief Minister urged the BJP workers to spread out at the ground level and list the achievements of the state as well as the Centre government before the electorate.

The BJP as a party boosted of a membership of 10 crore in the country. Party leaders are of the opinion that its strong party network that had spread up to the polling booth level would give them an edge on other parties in the 2019 parliamentary elections.

Sources said the party cadre had been asked to establish direct contact with electorate and counter the media propaganda of the opposition parties.

The party had also directed its senior most leadership, including ministers and MPs, to meet the intellectuals and opinion leaders.

Union minister JP Nadda had recently met intellectuals in Kangra district to get feedback regarding the NDA government.

The sources here said that the party office bearers were asked during the meeting to justify the demonetisation and GST steps of the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

After the party meeting, the Chief Minister also listened to the grievances of the residents of Jwalamukhi.