Discontent rising, Himachal Chief Minister plans visit to Kangra

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, July 19

Amidst growing frustration and infighting among the party leaders in Kangra district, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur will visit the district next week.

Sources told The Tribune that the Chief Minister would inaugurate various development projects apart from meeting the general public and party leaders during his visit. The Circuit House here was being prepared for the Chief Minister’s visit. A conference room was being set up where he would listen to the grievances of general public. Arrangements were also being held for the Chief Minister to hold meeting through video conferencing with the general public, officers and party leaders.

This would be for the first time that the Chief Minister would visit Kangra district after the outbreak of coronavirus. Though BJP has 10 MLAs in Kangra the party has been hit by infighting. Recently, BJP MLA from Jawalamukhi and former minister Ramesh Dhawala had openly spoken against the organizing secretary of party Pawan Rana. He had accused him of interfering in his constituency and pepping up his detractors within the party in Jwalamukhi area.

There was murmur in party regarding differences between Rajya Sabha member Indu Goswami and Pawan Rana. A message got circulated on social media in which BJP leader congratulated Indu Goswami saying that she had become the state president of the BJP. Goswami, however, distanced herself from the claim and expressed apprehensions that the news might have been circulated by some party leaders.

The issue of induction of MLA from Kangra into Cabinet has been hanging fire since long. Minister for Health Vipin Parmar was shifted as Speaker of Himachal Vidhan Sabha. Since then it was being speculated that there would be a reshuffle and an MLA from the district would be inducted into Cabinet. However, due to coronavirus Cabinet expansion and reshuffle has been put on hold. The sources here said as an austerity measure, the Cabinet expansion might not happen in near future.

There have been growing frustration among the ruling party MLAs also as their discretionary grant of Rs 1.80 crores per annum has been stopped after coronavirus outbreak. The grant used to prove handy for the MLAs in catering to the needs of people in their constituencies.

Party hit by infighting

• Though the BJP has 10 MLAs in Kangra, the party has been hit by infighting
• There is murmur in the party regarding differences between Rajya Sabha member Indu Goswami and Pawan Rana.
• The issue of induction of MLA from Kangra into the Cabinet has also been hanging fire.
• There have been growing frustration among the ruling party MLAs also as their discretionary grant of Rs 1.80 crores per annum has been stopped