Anil Joshi resigns, takes blame for Jaitley’s defeat

Saturday, 17/05/2014

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140517/punjab.htm#5

Amritsar : Following the defeat of senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley from Amritsar, Punjab Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi resigned from the Punjab Cabinet today, owning moral responsibility for the debacle.

Jaitley received drubbing by 18,726 votes from Joshi’s Amritsar (North) Assembly constituency.

Confirming the development, Joshi said he had submitted his resignation to Punjab BJP chief Kamal Sharma, requesting him to forward it to the Chief Minister. “I have quit as a minister owning moral responsibility for the defeat. We had sought the candidature of Jaitley from Amritsar and now that he has been defeated, I decided to resign from the post on moral grounds.” He said they had brought in Jaitley for better future of Amritsar as he could have been the game-changer not only for the holy city but also for the state.

Joshi claimed Jaitley could have helped boost trade, tourism and industry. “Jaitley’s defeat is a huge loss for Amritsar, which the people will realise in the coming days,” he said.

Kamal Sharma said he had received Joshi’s resignation, which he will discuss with Punjab BJP affairs in charge Shanta Kumar.

On the other hand, Congress leader Karamjit Singh Rintu hit out at Joshi, saying it was "sheer drama" and if he was sincere, he should have handed over his resignation directly to the CM.

Probably due to his difference with former MP Najvot Singh Sidhu, Joshi had led from the front in seeking the candidature of Jaitley from Amritsar. He along with his supporters even hosted a press conference to voice their demand for his candidature.

Joshi had fallen out with Sidhu after the latter lost from his Amritsar (North) Assembly segment in the last Lok Sabha elections.

A section of BJP leaders are also looking at Joshi’s resignation in light of the recent controversy sparked by the murderous attack on advocate Vaneet Mahajan, a complainant in dual vote case against him. “It seems like an attempt to save himself as he may have pre-empted that he is on a weak wicket after the Mahajan assault case,” said a BJP leader.

Joshi was already facing rough weather as Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Jaitley had recently expressed their displeasure over the row triggered by the Mahajan assault case.

Joshi had been in the news for the wrong reason for the last few months, as earlier a criminal complaint was filed against him and his family members in a local court in connection with the dual vote controversy.