Nishank angers RSS and BJP top brass
The RSS and BJP top brass are unhappy with Uttarakhand chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. The chief minister of the poll-bound state has not only failed to pacify dissident leaders, but also angered the central leadership with some of his recent decisions, sources disclosed.
But what is troubling the BJP top brass is that two of its seniormost leaders in the state had been demanding change in leadership and Mr Nishank has so far failed to appease them. Sources disclosed the BJP central leadership has now asked Mr Nishank to personally meet former chief minister B.C. Khanduri and Rajya Sabha member B.S. Koshiyari.
Following the party’s diktat, Mr Nishank held a meeting with Mr Khanduri recently and gave him a “status report” of projects which were launched during the latter’s tenure. Mr Khanduri, however, told the Uttarakhand chief minister that he would react on the “status report” only after going through it, sources said. Mr Nishank is also expected to meet Mr Koshiyari soon.
Both Mr Koshiyari and Mr Khanduri had been demanding change of leadership in the state, especially after Ms Nishank came under attack for various scams. But the BJP top brass had told both senior leaders that there will be no change in leadership till the Assembly polls are over. Polls are due in the state next year.
Sources said Mr Khanduri is sulking over being sidelined by the party leadership. Speculation has been rife in the BJP that Mr Khanduri is in favour of quitting the BJP and forming a third front. He recently had meetings with leaders of other political outfits. Both Mr Koshiyari and Mr Khanduri are also unhappy with Mr Nishank’s style of functioning and had raised the issue before the BJP top brass on numerous occasions. Mr Khanduri and Mr Koshiyari stayed away from an important party rally in the state recently which was addressed by Mr Rajnath Singh and Mr Nishank, among others leaders.
The BJP top brass, including party chief Nitin Gadkari, had held meetings with Mr Nishank, Mr Koshiyrai and Mr Khanduri several times but the party so far has failed to pacify its dissident leaders.
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