Union Parliamentary Affairs and Coal and Mines Minister Prahlad Joshi said in Mandya on Friday that the BJP is organizationally strong and there will be a change in the district in the coming days.
He was talking to media persons after Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the preparations for the inauguration of the expressway between Bengaluru and Mysuru on March 12.
Responding to a question on whether the BJP expected a change in Mandya after the PM’s visit, Mr Joshi said any suggestion that the ‘BJP was organizationally weak in Mandya district’ was in the past as it Was strong now and added “there will be change in the future”.
He played down the embarrassing recent developments in the district, where there is no minister in charge and Revenue Minister R.K. Ashoka demanded to be relieved of the post as he could not devote time.
”Excise Minister Gopalaiah and Sericulture Minister KC Narayana Gowda are giving enough time to the district and everything is working smoothly”, Mr. Joshi said.
When it was pointed out that Mr. Narayana Gowda himself had indicated joining the Congress, Mr. Joshi denied it and said that he had already spoken to Mr. Gowda. “He has taken the responsibility of ensuring the success of the Prime Minister’s programme”, Mr Joshi said.
When pointed out that all is not well within the BJP as Minister in-charge of Chamarajanagar district V. Somanna did not attend the inauguration of the Vijay Sankalp Yatra flagged off by BJP National President JP Nadda, Mr. Downplayed this too and said that he would speak to Mr. Somanna personally. Mr. Somanna’s absence gave rise to much speculation about his continuance in the party with BJP leaders later attributing his absence either to illness or other preoccupations.
When asked whether new entrants to the BJP would also join the Prime Minister’s program, Mr. Joshi said that leaders joining the party do not necessarily attend the Prime Minister’s programs but at the local level. This was alluding to speculation that Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambareesh was about to join the BJP and Mr Joshi said “everything will be told at the right time”.