The Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has stated that it has not received any official communication regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposed visit to the state. This comes a day after Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu claimed that the visit was scheduled for this month.
BJP state chief denies confirmation
Interacting with the media late Friday evening, Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon said there was no information or official word from the state unit about the Prime Minister's visit. "We have no confirmed information so far," Dhillon told reporters, adding that the party would provide an update whenever there is a confirmation.
A BJP source reiterated that there was no official communication yet, leaving the status of the visit uncertain.
Bittu's earlier announcement
On Thursday, while reacting to the Congress party's organisational revamp in Punjab, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu stated that Prime Minister Modi was scheduled to visit the state this month to inaugurate several major development projects. Bittu's statement suggested a high-profile visit aimed at showcasing the central government's infrastructure push in the state.
However, when asked about Bittu's claim, Dhillon stressed that the state party had not been officially informed, creating a discrepancy between the Union minister's announcement and the state unit's knowledge.
Political context and implications
The conflicting statements come amid heightened political activity in Punjab, where the BJP is seeking to strengthen its presence. The Congress party recently completed a major organisational overhaul, which Bittu had commented on while announcing the Prime Minister's proposed visit. The development projects Bittu mentioned are expected to be a key part of the BJP's outreach in the state.
Observers note that the lack of official communication could indicate that the visit is still in the planning stages, or that coordination between the central and state party units needs improvement. The BJP state unit is likely to await further instructions from the party high command.
What happens next
Until official confirmation is received, the Punjab BJP will not make any further announcements about the Prime Minister's schedule. The party source added that a formal update would be issued once the visit is confirmed. Meanwhile, political rivals are expected to use the confusion to question the BJP's organisational coherence in Punjab.
