BJP to name new chief this week

With the BJP's Chandigarh unit set to pick its next president, prominent local leaders have met the party high command in New Delhi over the past few days. Discussions were held over the choices for the next party chief and an announcement is expected to be made this week.

Incumbent president Sanjay Tandon, the incharge of the Legal and Legislative Cell of the party Satya Pal Jain and senior leader Harmohan Dhawan were called by the party high command individually for meetings on separate days.

While Tandon is bidding for a second term, some senior leaders are of the opinion that with the Lok Sabha elections in 2014, an experienced person should be handed over the charge. The names of former party presidents Kamla Sharma, Yash Pal Mahajan, Dharam Pal Gupta and Jai Ram Joshi have been suggested.

Over the past few weeks, factionalism in the saffron party's city unit has come to the fore.

A protest was held against Tandon at the BJP office with party workers and leaders alleging that there was a lack of transparency in the internal elections that were being held. Following the protest, showcause notices were issued to some party leaders and three of them were expelled. No decision has been taken on their fate till date.

Some of the BJP leaders have also blamed Tandon for losses in the by-elections in the Municipal Corporation as well as the last Lok Sabha elections. Several rounds of meetings were held with the senior leaders. The incharge of the city unit Saroj Pandey also visited the city to take stock of the situation and heard the grievances of the workers.

A senior leader said that the name of the president is likely to be announced in this week.

He added that discussion on the names of senior leaders and former party presidents was held. It is being felt that an experienced person be given a chance. Among the former presidents, the person whose performance has been the best should be selected, he added.

ALSO READ

Life of Pi singer Bombay Jayashri to perform in Chandigarh

Theories of Sino-India war far-fetched, says ex-Army chief

HC rejects Punjab plea on Bhattal’s govt house

Civic body moots Rs 616-cr budget, discussion today