Harmony in House after 5-yr ‘bitterness’

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, January 14

The four-day winter session of the state Assembly, which concluded on January 12, witnessed a congenial atmosphere.

The sessions in the last five years of the Congress rule were marred by heated exchanges. The House had to be suspended midway on several occasions due to pandemonium. However, this time both the government and the Opposition resolved to work together. The Chief Minister answered each and every query of the Opposition. Even the government listened to the criticism of the Governor’s address by Congress MLA Asha Kumari without any disruption.

The new BJP government tried to project its vision for the state, while the Opposition sounded a conciliatory note. There were 22 first-time MLAs in the House and many names that dominated the political scenario of the state for the past two decades were missing.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur extended an olive branch to the Opposition that political vendetta would not be the new government’s agenda and rather he would welcome suggestions from the Opposition for the development of the state. The expectations of people from the new Chief Minister were high. Large number of people and delegations met him at the Circuit House and the Vidhan Sabha.

Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Mukesh Agnihotri stated that politicians should act as a community rather than indulging in mud-slinging. He also proposed the name of Rajeev Bindal for the post of Speaker despite reservations by a section of Congress members. The CLP leader was, however, critical of bureaucracy and said it wanted to take the new government on the path of political vendetta.

The new ministers were busy meeting supporters from their constituencies, ordering transfers in their respective departments and holding meetings with the secretaries. The CM also organised a presentation by officials regarding the current state of affairs for the ruling party legislative members. The Secretary, Finance, gave a presentation on the financial status of the state. However, some of the ruling party legislators were critical of the move. They said these were the same officials who were running the show without any complaint for the last five years. What has happened suddenly in the first month of the new government that the bureaucrats were talking of financial crises now, they asked.

The validity of holding the four-day Assembly session at Dharamsala, a tradition started by former CM Virbhadra Singh, also came under debate. Initially, pro tem Speaker Ramesh Dhawala said there was no logic in holding the session at Dharamsala and that it was wastage of funds.

However, BJP MLA from Nurpur Rakesh Pathania said it was a representation to the people of Kangra and other lower areas of Himachal. It provided an opportunity to people to meet the government at their doorsteps.