Don’t ignore core constituency, Madhav warns BJP ministers

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 8

BJP’s national general secretary Ram Madhav has given a veiled warning to party ministers against Jammu, which is the core constituency of the saffron party. He gave this warning only after getting “disturbing” feedback from party leaders and workers about the functioning style of party ministers in the coalition.

Highly placed sources said Ram Madhav, who was in Jammu on Tuesday and Wednesday to review the functioning of the party and the government, told BJP ministers that it was a historic opportunity before them to deliver because people of the Jammu region had overwhelmingly voted in favour of the party. Sources added that he told the ministers that people of the Jammu region were hoping that the BJP would end decade-long injustice with them.

They said that Madhav advised party ministers in the coalition to concentrate on the region and formulate some comprehensive and visible plans for the overall development of this part of the state to further strengthen the party. “Apparently, upset over the discouraging feedback from party leaders and workers about performance of BJP ministers in the state, Ram Madhav bluntly told party ministers that it was not a healthy sign that even party workers were not satisfied with them,” a source said, adding that Madhav asked party ministers to establish connection with the workers and people. He, sources said, also cautioned them against allowing power brokers to interfere in their departments.

Although Ram Madhav has rubbished allegations of corruption and misdeeds on party ministers, he in the in-house meeting told party leaders such allegations had tarnished the image of the party. He suggested party ministers to bring transparency and accountability in their respective departments so as to blunt such allegations of the Opposition.

Sources said Madhav,architect of the PDP-BJP government, gave a a clear message to party ministers that corruption would not be tolerated at any cost and the party would not hesitate to take action against those found involved in corrupt practices.