Amit Shah cancels visit to Tamil Nadu for second time
TNN | Aug 22, 2017, 05:33 AM IST
BJP chief Amit Shah.
"He has postponed his visit since he has to remain here for some other important work that has come up," a senior party leader said on Monday when asked about the postponement of the Chennai visit. This is the second time Shah has put off his trip to Tamil Nadu, which is part of BJP's expansion plans. He was earlier scheduled to visit Tamil Nadu in May.
BJP sources also did not rule out the possibility of a Cabinet reshuffle which could see induction of members of the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U), which joined the NDA last Saturday. Union minister and RLSP leader Upendra Kushwaha also met Shah, adding to the speculation. In a statement from Chennai, Tamil Nadu BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararajan said Shah had to postpone his visit due to a meeting with the party chief ministers in Delhi on Monday and his subsequent requirement in various other important meetings.
As a result, his visit to Tamil Nadu as part of the 95 day nationwide tour has been postponed, she said.The new schedule for his visit would be announced later, she added.
The political situation in the state has been volatile since the death of former party supremo and chief minister J Jayalalitha, first due to factional fights that broke out in the ruling AIADMK and then due to intense efforts for a merger between the two main groups, one headed by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and another by former chief minister O Panneerselvam.
While both factions have been friendly to BJP and supported the party's presidential and vice-presidential nominees recently, the saffron party has indicated its preference for their unification.
While BJP has one Lok Sabha MP from the state, it has no representation in the 234-member state assembly, dominated by AIADMK at present.
With an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Shah is travelling across the country to strategise and find ways to improve the party's presence in new areas.
Shah was likely to meet leaders representing backward and most backward classes as part of efforts to strengthen the party in Tamil Nadu during his three-day visit to the state. He was scheduled to address leaders of backward classes from diverse backgrounds here on Tuesday.
CHENNAI: BJP chief Amit Shah has postponed his three-day tour of Tamil Nadu, for which he was scheduled to leave Delhi on Tuesday morning amid speculation of a reshuffle in the Narendra Modi cabinet.
"He has postponed his visit since he has to remain here for some other important work that has come up," a senior party leader said on Monday when asked about the postponement of the Chennai visit. This is the second time Shah has put off his trip to Tamil Nadu, which is part of BJP's expansion plans. He was earlier scheduled to visit Tamil Nadu in May.
BJP sources also did not rule out the possibility of a Cabinet reshuffle which could see induction of members of the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U), which joined the NDA last Saturday. Union minister and RLSP leader Upendra Kushwaha also met Shah, adding to the speculation. In a statement from Chennai, Tamil Nadu BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararajan said Shah had to postpone his visit due to a meeting with the party chief ministers in Delhi on Monday and his subsequent requirement in various other important meetings.
As a result, his visit to Tamil Nadu as part of the 95 day nationwide tour has been postponed, she said.The new schedule for his visit would be announced later, she added.
The political situation in the state has been volatile since the death of former party supremo and chief minister J Jayalalitha, first due to factional fights that broke out in the ruling AIADMK and then due to intense efforts for a merger between the two main groups, one headed by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and another by former chief minister O Panneerselvam.
While both factions have been friendly to BJP and supported the party's presidential and vice-presidential nominees recently, the saffron party has indicated its preference for their unification.
While BJP has one Lok Sabha MP from the state, it has no representation in the 234-member state assembly, dominated by AIADMK at present.
With an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Shah is travelling across the country to strategise and find ways to improve the party's presence in new areas.
Shah was likely to meet leaders representing backward and most backward classes as part of efforts to strengthen the party in Tamil Nadu during his three-day visit to the state. He was scheduled to address leaders of backward classes from diverse backgrounds here on Tuesday.