Weak reachout by Himachal Pradesh MLAs, BJP cadre upset

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 16

With positivity and mortality rate in Himachal touching 26.3 per cent and 1.42 per cent, respectively, the absence of a majority of MLAs and chairpersons of various boards and corporations from the field during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has not gone down well with the BJP cadre.

The party is on the back foot after Congress MLA from Barsar ID Lakhanpal on Friday performed the last rites of a Covid victim and social media went agog, showering praise on him and asking other leaders to emulate him. The ruling BJP has 44 MLAs in the 67-member House and they are expected to remain in touch with their constituents, especially during such an unprecedented calamity, said party insiders while pointing out the failing at a recent meeting.

Top officials of corporations should also actively involve themselves in supplementing the efforts of the government and lead the cadre from the front, the office-bearers felt.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur too had recently asked MLAs and other senior leaders to visit families which had lost their members to the pandemic and help them with the last rites.

The violation of instructions like capping the number of guests at weddings has added to the spurt in Covid cases in villages, said a BJP leader.