The party has evidently been forced to placate Haryana Chief Minister Bansi Lal, although the party's state leadership is said to be up in arms against Lal's assertive style of functioning.
They have complained to the central BJP leaders that Lal does not consult them even while appointing BJP ministers. A party source said that even BJP legislature party chief Ram Bilas Sharma was not consulted on such appointments.
A party spokesman pointed out, while denying the reports of souring relations, that Haryana Chief Minister Bansi Lal had devoted a week's time to campaign for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. Our terms are cordial and there is no complaint against Bansi Lal's way of functioning, he stated.
A senior BJP leader said that the party's denial comes under pressure from Bansi Lal, who felt that the recent newspaper reports would be detrimental to the future of the alliance and of the Haryana government. Lal had sent the message to the BJP leadership through leader of the HVP parliamentary party Jai Prakash and also spoke to BJP leaders on the telephone.
Meanwhile, the BJP, while congratulating the people of Jammu and Kashmir for giving a decisive mandate against militancy and Pakistan-backed terrorism, cautioned the National Conference and the United Front against talking of autonomy in vague terms. Advising National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah to work for closer integration of the state with rest of the country, the party stressed that the clock in the state cannot be put backward.
The BJP also asked Abdullah to create a congenial environment in the valley for resettlement of the migrants who left the valley under threats of terrorism.
