BJP slaps notice on ‘green snake in grass’ Balnataha

He had written a letter to BJP president Nitin Gadkari,pointing out corruption charges against the state government and alleging that its popularity was falling due to nepotism and regionalism.

While defending the notice issued to Balnataha,BJP spokesperson Ganesh Dutt said that the rebel MLA’s act was unpardonable,as he had tried to challenge the leadership of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal,forgetting that he had won the election only because of Dhumal.

“Previously,he had lost four elections to former chief minister Virbhadra Singh. Balnataha should remain indebted to Dhumal for ensuring his first victory to the Assembly in 2009,” said Dutt.

“The BJP workers in Rohru,who staged a demonstration and burned his effigies,have named him ‘a green snake in green grass’,” said Dutt,adding that the party leadership in Delhi had taken his act of leaking the letter to the media very seriously.

The BJP leader rejected Balnataha’s statements about the BJP having lost the Municipal Corporation polls. “In fact,the BJP’s performance in the polls has been the best in its history as it has won 12 council wards as opposed to eight. One was lost by two votes. Thus,apart from losing the posts of mayor and deputy mayor,the party has performed well. Balnataha has no moral right to praise the CPM for the victory or to predict the third force’s chances in Himachal Pradesh,knowing well that the state has matured in the two party system,” he said.

The party spokesman said Balnataha had been hobnobbing with leaders of the Himachal Lokhit Party and had been giving them advice freely. “The cat is out of the bag and such people,who used the party forum to enhance their image,don’t deserve a place in the party. They must leave the party and die a political death,” he said.

Dutt said Balnataha’s acts of rebellion will not hinder Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal’s effort to return to power in the next elections.

Bindal to resign as minister on June 25

Nahan; Health Minister Rajiv Bindal,who was on Wednesday named as the party’s general secretary in Himachal Pradesh,said here on Thursday that he will resign from the Dhumal cabinet on June 25 and take organisational charge.

“It was about a year back that I volunteered to work in the organisation and I am happy the central leadership has accepted my request,” he added.

Bindal said he would go to the public with the record of developments done by the present BJP government during the period of its rule in the state.

On Balnataha’s letter,Bindal said Rohru MLA had no right to demand the change of leadership in the state as he had won the seat due only to the efforts of Dhumal.

He said that in case Balnataha had a wish he must resign first to seek fresh mandate from the area and try to win the seat.

Meanwhile a local unit of the BJP today submitted resignations en-masse to convey their solidarity. with Bindal,whom they claimed having been a target and dropped from the cabinet under pressure from some BJP leaders.

However,later ,BJP spokesman Ganesh Dutt said the party workers have been informed about the fact that it was BJP leadership’s decision to use services of Bindal in the party.