Core group to iron out differences in Chhattisgarh BJP

Raipur, June 19 (UNI) Senior BJP leaders are meeting today to review the functioning of the 3-year old Dr Raman Singh government and to work out a strategy to rejuvenate the organisation in Chhattisgarh ahead of next year's assembly polls.

BJP President Rajnath Singh and state party incharge Dharmendra Pradhan, MP, are attending the crucial core group meeting, which would discuss ways to iron out ''differences'' within the organisation, reshuffle of the ministry and preparatory steps for the next assembly polls, party sources said.

In the presence of Mr Rajnath Singh, the sources said, efforts would be made to iron out differences between party's senior members of parliament and the BJP government. Besides, intra-party squabbles also led to the resignation of state Finance Minister Amar Agrawal from the ministry in the recent past.

Indicating that reshuffle of the ministry was also likely to come up for discussion, a senior BJP leader, who is also a member of parliament, told UNI that the image of few ministers was a matter for concern for the party which has to face the voters next year.

''These ministers have alienated not only from the BJP workers but also from the common masses, even within their constituencies'', the MP said, adding such attitude and behaviour of ministers would prove detrimental to the organisation.

The core group is also expected to discuss steps to be taken to rejuvenate the organisation as it is being felt that the party would be able to retain power in the next assembly elections, particularly after the BJP wrested two assembly seats, which were traditional stronghold of other parties, in recent by-election.

BJP Vice President Karuna Shukla, State BJP President Vishnu Deo Sai, Chief Minister Raman Singh, party veteran Lakhiram Agrawal, former union minister Ramesh Bais and senior tribal leaders Nandkumar Sai and Baliram Kashyap are attending the meeting of core group.

UNI