BJP MEET TO ASSESS POLL DEFEAT REMAINS FORMALITY

CHANDIGARH:The meeting of Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders here on Saturday to ascertain the reasons behind the recent poll debacle proved to be a mere formality with national organisational secretary Ram Lal skipping it due to commitments in Delhi.

Sources said a few voices of dissent were raised against state BJP president Vijay Sampla but because Ram Lal was not there, many leaders who planned to question his role during the elections did not do so.

“We planned to corner Sampla before the national organisational secretary. Since he skipped the meeting, there was no fun in raising the questions before Punjab BJP affairs in-charge Prabhat Jha as he is already aware of the issues,” said a leader on condition of anonymity.

The meeting of core committee leaders, assembly poll candidates, district presidents and office-bearers ended after Jha and Sampla issued directions for the preparations of the BJP’s upcoming founding day celebrations.

Later speaking to the media, Sampla attacked chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, saying the new Congress government was trying to fulfil its promises of farm debt waiver by seeking the Centre’s assistance.

He said the BJP will organise functions from April 6 to 14 to mark the party’s founding day anniversary.