Rumours of Bali joining BJP run rife on social media
DHARAMSHALA: As speculations ran rife that transport minister GS Bali may join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the four-term legislator from Nagrota Bagwan took to social media to clarify his stand.
Soon after the news about veteran leader Sukh Ram and his minister son Anil Sharma joining the BJP broke on Saturday evening, the social media was abuzz with rumours of Bali joining the saffron party. His close relations with NDA ministers such as Arun Jaitely, Nitin Gadkari and Birender Chaudhary further fuelled the speculations.
On Sunday morning, word spread on the social media that Bali had met BJP president Amit Shah and the announcement of his joining the party may come anytime. However, in the afternoon, Bali took to his Facebook page to clarify things.
“People of Nagrota Bagwan are like my family and my relationship with them is an emotional one. I will be indebted to you people for the love you have showered on me during my long political career and the support you have extended in adverse circumstances,” wrote Bali on his Facebook page.
“My aim is to make Nagrota Bagwan an ideal constituency by providing every possible facility for its people,” he added.
The flamboyant minister said he was busy with a family function in Delhi and so could not attend a workers’ meet at his home turf. “I want to tell the people of Nagrota Bhagwan that what is being spread on social media is just a rumour,” he wrote, urging his supporters not to pay heed to these speculations.
However, he has not completely ruled out the possibility.
“I will soon be among you people. Will discuss things and take the decision accordingly,” he wrote in concluding words.
Since then his post is being shared continuously on the social media. One supporter has written that the people of Nagrota are with Bali, no matter what party he joins. Another supporter urged him not to switch over to the saffron party.
When Hindustan Times tried to reach the minister, his associate who received the call said all the things said on social media were rumours and “Things should be put to rest as boss has clarified on his Facebook page”.
WHAT IF HE QUITS?
If Bali still switches over to the BJP, the Congress will definitely lose a formidable force and BJP will gain in Kangra, a politically significant district which sends 15 legislators to the 68-member house.
Bali, in recent years, has established himself as one of the tallest leaders in Kangra. He was being seen as a possible chief ministerial candidate after Virbhadra Singh. In fact he himself projected his name for the post of CM during the previous elections.
The only hurdle Bali faced in becoming an undisputable leader of Kangra was his ego clash with other leaders in the district. He could never muster support from all the leaders in Kangra. If in future, Bali quits Congress and moves on to the BJP, the decision may also backfire as it can lead to a credibility crisis.