CHANDIGARH: Punjab BJP has convened a meeting of its core committee on November 25 to discuss among other things the ongoing confrontation between the Health Minister, Madan Mohan Mittal and the Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Navjot Kaur Sidhu, attached to the Health Department, over latter’s penchant for carrying out sting operations on absentee government doctors.
Although the meeting has been ostensibly called for discussing present political situation in the state and related organizational matters, but it goes without saying that the biggest organizational problem facing the party now is the open confrontation between the two BJP leaders.
State BJP president, Ashwani Sharma has been unable to enforce discipline and ensure adherence to the gag order issued by him. The very fact that the incharge of Punjab BJP affairs, Shanta Kumar, will himself preside over the meeting shows that the party leadership is viewing this matter seriously.
There is speculation that if the two leaders do not call a truce immediate and promise to behave in future, then either Mittal or Navjot may end up losing the Health portfolio. There are credible reports that Mittal, who is a qualified lawyer and has served Food and Civil Supplies minister in the past, is not very happy with his portfolio because he feels that his talent and expertise should be utilized in some other, more demanding department. On the other hand, Navjot is a qualified MBBS doctor, feels that she should be allowed a free hand to set the Health Department right.
