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Monday,
February 3, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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BJP
‘making’ back-door recruitments STATE OF PARTIES —
HVC Employees
no longer organised Modi
factor ‘not relevant’ 14 booths
hyper-sensitive |
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Cong vs
BJP in Kangra Eventful,
tumultuous years All in
the family BJP ex-MLA to contest as Independent
Fresh snow in HP areas Shimla, February 2 The entire Himachal Pradesh was in the grip of a severe cold wave following fresh snow in higher reaches and rain in lower areas last night. A piercing cold wave sweeped Shimla and the adjoining areas and tourist resorts of Wildflower Hall, Kufri, Naldehra and Narkanda in the district, forcing tourists to remain indoors. Students
come to friend’s rescue
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BJP ‘making’ back-door recruitments Dharamsala, February 2 The state government recently asked a Chandigarh-based private agency to select technical staff for Dr
R. P. G. Medical College, Tanda. The company has already advertised for 150 posts and called for applications. This has raised a furore amongst the technically trained unemployed youth who feel cheated. The trained nurses have taken to the streets against this attempt. While the matter has been brought to the notice of the Election Commission, the state government seems to have learnt no lesson and another such attempt is being made in the transport corporation. Process is already on to recruit helper conductors on a contract basis in the HRTC. It may be recalled that earlier also, the HRTC had recruited more than 250 helper conductors. It is alleged that these recruitments have been made ignoring the claims of those already working with the corporation as contract ticket-sellers. There are instances that BJP workers close to sitting MLAs and ministers have been recruited. Now the HRTC has invited applications when the election schedule has already been announced and the model code of conduct is in place. The forms sold in thousands are to be submitted before February 7th, the last date for filing nominations. This move is
reviewed as an attempt to woo angry youths who feel cheated by the failure of Dhumal government to provide them with jobs despite assurances. According to sources, the BJP is finding it difficult to rope in their workers who, due to unfulfilled promises, are not ready to come forward to work for the party. The Congress has decided to take up the matter with the Election Commission. |
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STATE OF PARTIES
— HVC Mandi It is another matter that neither of the two have finally accepted Mr Sukh Ram’s offer, forcing him to go it virtually alone in the company of such political lightweights like the CPI, the CPM, the Janata Dal, the Samajwadi Party and other likeminded outfits in the state. Mr Sukh Ram’s main strength lies in his role of a spoiler in a large number of constituencies of the State Assembly. His candidates can make or mar the electoral
prospects of a large number of candidates of the Congress and the BJP. This was the role which he played to perfection in the 1998 assembly poll. It remains to be seen if history will repeat itself in the coming poll. The HVC was born in 1997. It was floated by Mr Sukh Ram after he had been ousted from the Congress. He was thrown out of the Congress after CBI raids led to the recovery of Rs 3 crore from his residence in Mandi town. Mr Sukh Ram had categorically blamed the then Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, for having conspired against him. He soon grouped together with disgruntled Congressmen who did not see eye to eye with Mr Virbhadra Singh and made remarkable impression on state politics in the 1998 assembly elections by bagging five seats. Through complicated political manoeuvres, Mr Sukh Ram enabled the then state BJP president, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, to become the Chief Minister. Two HVC MLAs, Mr Mansa Ram and Mr Parkash Chaudhary, were made to join the BJP in a master stroke played by Mr Sukh Ram to prevent his political enemy, Mr Virbhadra Singh, from forming a Congress government in the state. Mr Dhumal paid back the compliment by making Mr Sukh Ram Minister for Power and Public Works in his government. Mr Mansa Ram became Civil Supplies Minister while Mr Parkash Chaudhary was appointed Minister of State for Rural and Development. After the CBI filed a charge sheet against Mr Sukh Ram, he was forced to resign under pressure from Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Soon after, fissures led to a split in the HVC. PWD Minister Mohinder Singh along with the party general secretary, Mr Kewal Ram Chauhan were, expelled from the HVC for anti-party activities. Mr Dhumal then appointed Mr Sukh Ram as Chairman of the Employment Generation Committee. The HVC got a shot in the arm with two of its members, Mr Mansa Ram and Mr Parkash Chaudhary, resigning from the Dhumal Ministry and returning to the party fold after enjoying political asylum in the BJP for five long years. Besides Mandi, the party enjoys a following in the districts of Kulu ,Shimla and Sirmaur. In 1998, the HVC had fielded candidates in 62 of the 68 segments and won five seats, securing 9.43 per cent votes in the district and 38 per cent in Mandi district. Later, during the mid-term Lok Sabha elections in 1999, the HVC’s vote share increased to 12 per cent and its candidate won the Shimla seat, making it a force to reckon with in the state. The HVC now has one member in the Lok Sabha, Mr Dhani Ram Shandil, and one in the Rajya Sabha, Mr Anil Sharma, who is son of Mr Sukh Ram, who also happens to be the party president. |
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Employees
no longer organised Shimla, February 2 The credibility of the employees’ leadership has been severely eroded over the past few years and there is no leader worth the name who commanded respect among the employees. The once-powerful State Non-Gazetted services federation has split into various factions and their leaders have been reduced to “paper tigers” who showed this existence only by issuing press statements in favour or against particular parties and leaders to please their benefactors. In fact, the federation has virtually become a captive body of the government over the past decade. While Mr Virbhadra Singh propped up Mr Gopal Das Verma as the leader of the federation during his term as Chief Minister from 1993-1998, Mr P.K. Dhumal, who assumed office subsequently, patronised Mr Ganga Singh, who is heading the federation at present. Worse, government interference in the elections of the federation has become a regular feature. Mr Verma became the President of the federation twice with the open support of Mr Virbhadra Singh, which led to a split, with the pro-BJP faction headed by Mr Subhash Sharma floating the Himachal Employees Confederation. Mr Ganga Singh upstaged Mr Verma with the help of the Dhumal government, which was keen on having its own man at the helm of affairs. However, in the process it lost the support of the confederation, which had been traditionally supporting the BJP. In short, the employees have ceased to be a “collective force” to make or mar the electoral fortunes of political parties. The myth that they could help win elections was exploded in the Shimla Municipal Corporation poll last year. Besides various factions of the Non-Gazetted Services Federation, about 50 odd other employees outfits pledged open support to Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, but the BJP was routed in the poll. This happened despite the fact that employees and members of their families accounted for more than half of the total voters in the state capital. The reasons for the declining influence of employees leaders are not far to seek. Unlike the leaders of yesteryear like Mr Madhukar, Mr Narain Singh Swami, Mr Ram Kumar, Mr R.S. Verma and Mr Daulat Ram Chauhan, who fought for rights of employees, the present-day leaders have been behaving more like political workers than trade unionists, seeking petty favours and interfering in transfers and other administrative matters. Their open indulgence in politics has done no good to their credibility. There was a time when political parties sought the support of powerful employees’ leaders. Mr Madhukar, Mr R.S. Verma, Mr B.D. Lakhanpal, Mr Adan Singh and many other leaders were offered the tickets by political parties. Nowadays the employees’ leaders are themselves knocking at the doors of political parties for securing the ticket. Besides the pro-Congress and pro-BJP factions, a number of Left front trade unions are active in the state. Their influence is, however, restricted to some pockets. They mostly support the Congress, except at a few seats where their own party puts up candidates. |
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Modi factor ‘not relevant’ Hamirpur, February 2 Mr Prasad said that the Modi factor would not click in Himachal. Mr Modi had no relevance and the people would not believe the man who had invited state-sponsored terrorism in Gujarat. He asked Mr Modi to clarify the statements of Prime Minister Atal Behari
Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister. L.K. Advani that the Gujarat incidents were shameful. The Congress leader said the party would contest the elections on the plank of total failure of the BJP Government on all front and rampant corruption and the party would bring out a booklet exposing the real face of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. The party would give complete details of his properties soon. |
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14 booths hyper-sensitive Nurpur, February 2 Mr Atri said there were 16 and 15 sensitive and 17 and 13 hyper-sensitive polling stations in Gangath and Jawali constituencies, respectively. He said the Dhangupir and Ganoh polling booths in Gangath and Nurpur constituencies, respectively, had the maximum voters — 1243 and 1201, respectively. Similarly, Kolahan and Beli Mahnta in Nurpur and
Gangath, respectively, had 64 and 187 voters, respectively, he added. Meanwhile, Mr Sat Mahajan asserted that the manifesto of the Congress to be formed would be a policy document of the Congress government. He was addressing a press conference here last night. Mr Mahajan said in the manifesto, welfare of the poorest of the poor had been given top priority and emphasis was laid only on those promises which could be fulfilled. He appealed to Congressmen and party ticket-seekers to close ranks and to work for the victory of the Congress candidates. |
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Cong vs BJP in Kangra Dharamsala, February 2 Though the nominations have just started and despite the fact that all constituencies will witness multi-cornered contests due to the fielding of candidates by the HVC, the Loktantrik Jan Morcha of Mr Ram Vilas Pawan, and the Him Loktantrik Morcha of Mohinder Singh and many independents, the main contest in almost all 16 seats will be between the BJP and the Congress. In Baijnath, sitting BJP MLA Dulo Ram, a confidant of Union Rural Development Minister Shanta Kumar, is facing challenge from Mr Sudhir Sharma, son of former minister Sant Ram. In Rajgir (Reserve), sitting BJP MLA and Chairman of the HP Forest Corporation Atma Ram will face Dr M.R. Goma, who has represented the constituency for three terms. Both have defeated each other two times. In Sulah, sitting BJP MLA and Chairman of the HP Khadi Board Vipin Singh Parmar will face Mr Jagjiwan Paul. In the 1998 elections, Mr Vipin Singh had defeated Mr Jagjiwan Paul by a slender margin of 125 votes. In Thural, sitting BJP MLA and Minister of State Ravinder Singh Ravi is being challenged by Mr J.C. Sapehia of the Congress, who is contesting for the first time. In Nagrota Bagwan, sitting Congress MLA and party general secretary G.S. Bali will again be challenged by Mr Ram Chand Bhatia (BJP), who has lost the last two elections. In Kangra, both BJP and the Congress have fielded new faces as sitting MLA and former Agriculture Minister Vidya Sagar has been denied the ticket for raising the banner of revolt against the Chief Minister. The BJP has fielded Mr Rattan Jagtamba, chairman of the Kangra Zila Parishad, while the Congress has declared the candidature of Mr Surinder Kaku Maj. Vijay Singh Mankotia Congress) will contest from Shahpur against sitting BJP MLA and Parliamentary Secretary Sarween Chaudhary, who had shifted loyalties from Mr Shanta Kumar to Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal. Both have won against each other once. In Dharamsala, senior Congress leader and President of the All-India Mahila Congress Chandresh Kumari is pitted against Transport Minister Kishan Kapoor, a confidant of union minister Shanta Kumar. In Pragpur (Reserve) the BJP and the Congress have fielded new faces. Ms Anita Sandal is the choice of Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal, denying, the ticket to sitting MLA Nirmala Kumari, a confidant of Mr Shanta Kumar. The Congress has fielded a youth, Mr Pradeep Kumar. In Jwalamukhi, IPH Minister Ramesh Dhwala, who was an Independent MLA, has been given the BJP ticket while the Congress has fielded Kewal Singh Pathania, who had won the seat in 1993 but was defeated in a triangular contest in 1998. In Jaswan, old rivals — sitting Congress MLA Viplove Thakur, BJP candidate Vikram Singh and Loktantrik Jan Morcha chief Romel Singh Wadial — will face one another. In Guler, the contest is again between old rivals, sitting Congress MLA Chander Kumar and Mr Harbans Singh Rana of the BJP. Mr Rana has won the seat twice while Mr Chander Kumar has represented the constituency four times. In Jwali once again, Revenue Minister Rajan Sushant and former Congress Minister Sujan Singh Pathania are pitted against each other. Both have been victorious three times each. In Nurpur, sitting BJP MLA and Chairman of the HPTDC Rakesh Pathania will face the old warhorse and one of the seniormost Congress leaders, Mr Sat Mahajan, who has won the seat four times. In Gangath (Reserve) sitting BJP MLA Des Raj, who is a confidant of Union Minister Shanta Kumar, will once again face Mr Bodh Raj. In 1998, the BJP had won the seat by a slender margin of 143 votes. |
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Eventful, tumultuous years Shimla, February 2 The Governor invited Congress Legislature Party leader Virbhadra Singh to form the government on March 6. He resigned on March 12 before seeking the vote of confidence. The Governor recommended that the Assembly be kept under suspended animation till the election to three tribal constituencies and one by-election. In the meantime, the Vajpayee government was formed at the Centre and the Union Cabinet sent a reference to the Governor to explore other options for government formation. Independent MLA Romesh
Dhawala, who held the balance of power, first joined the Congress ministry and was later sworn in as Cabinet minister in the Dhumal ministry, which assumed office on March 24. Himachal Vikas Congress supremo Sukh Ram, who was number two in the Cabinet, had to resign in May following the filing of a charge-sheet against him in a Delhi court. A new precedent was set by the BJP-HVC combine by announcing the name of Congress MLA Gulab Singh Thakur as its candidate for the post of Speaker against the official Congress candidate. Mr Thakur was elected Speaker and he resigned from the Congress, reducing its strength from 31 to 30. For the first time, a unique method was adopted to give stability to the government. A split was engineered in the four-member HVC, with Mr Mansa Ram and Mr Prakash Chaudhary forming a splinter group and merging it with the BJP. Mr Mohinder Singh was expelled from the HVC and later dropped from the Cabinet in the wake of a revolt by BJP dissidents in December, 2000. Four ministers, including Mr Romesh
Dhawala, were dropped from the ministry following a revolt against the Chief Minister, but were reinducted after one month.
PTI |
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All in the family Shimla, February 2 This is quite evident from the large number of relatives of established leaders who have been granted tickets by the party for the Assembly elections. Obviously, the party strongly feels that by fielding candidate from the same family, it will be able to retain the traditional support base and at the same time, manage to present a new face before the electorate. The classic example of it is the Nalagarh seat, from where the party has nominated Rani Sukriti Devi, wife of Raja Vijendra Singh, who has been contesting the seat for the past two decades. Similarly, in
Nadaunta, it has preferred to field Mrs Vidya Zar, wife of Mr Rajinder
Zar, and replaced Mr Omkar Sharma with his son, Mr Mukesh Agnihottari, from the Santokhgarh seat. Over the last five years, the party has lost many of its stalwarts, but it has not taken the risk of fielding any candidates in their place other than those belonging to their families. Mr Rohit Thakur has been asked to contest from
Jubbal-Kotkhai, place of his grandfather the late Thakur Ram Lal. In
Baijnath, Mr Sudhir Sharma will fill the void created by the demise of his father, Sant Ram Similarly, Mr Surinder Bhardwaj will step into the shoes of his late father,
Vidyadhar, from the Rajnagar (reserved) seat in Chamba district. In Lahaul-Spiti, it is Mr Raghubir Singh, son of former minister Mr Devi Singh, while in Sunder Nagar Mr Sohan Lal will enter the fray in place of his late brother Sher Singh. Interestingly, the relatives are also used to upstage established leaders. The political parties never hesitate to exploit hostility between families. This time, the Congress is using this to corner Mr Gulab Singh, who has joined the BJP. He will be challenged in the electoral arena by his nephew, Mr Surinder Thakur. The BJP has also granted ticket to family members of leaders. It has decided to field Mr Sanjay Shastri from Chopal in place of his father Radha Raman Shastri. Mr Karan Singh, brother of Mr Maheshwar Singh, a minister in the Dhumal government, has been accommodated in Kulu and Rani Kiran Kumari, his sister, has been nominated as party candidate from Mandi. Political leaders of all hues mostly strive to induct their relatives into electoral politics. Mr Shanta Kumar, Union Minister, has been an exception. He has rejected the party’s move to field either his wife or brother from
Palampur. |
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BJP ex-MLA to contest as Independent Nahan, February 2 Addressing a meeting of nearly 500 BJP workers of the Shillai area, Mr Negi announced to fight as Independent candidate from this constituency. Mr Harshu Ram,
BDC, Shillai, and eight senior leaders holding different posts in the block and district units also resigned from the primary membership of the party. At Paonta, Mr Chain Singh president, Majra panchayat, joined the Congress today. Similarly at Renuka, eight BJP office bearers of the Sangrah panchayat have joined the Congress. |
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Fresh snow in
HP areas Shimla, February 2 The temperature fell to 3.2 °C at The Ridge in the capital town and the sky remained overcast during the day. The Kangra and Kulu valleys also reeled under cold-wave conditions following more snow on the Dhauladhar ranges and the Rohtang Pass. The Kangra region also experienced rain. People in the tribal districts of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur and the Pangi valley and the Bharmour area in Chamba district groaned under piercing cold wave with the temperature hovering between minus 15 °C and minus 20 °C in the tribal belt. The tribal areas had another spell of snow last night. UNI |
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Students
come to friend’s rescue Hamirpur, February 2 Students of Nadaun School have come out to help their colleague and have so far collected Rs. 60,000 for his treatment. His father, Ramesh Chand needs Rs. 90,000 more as the cost for the kidney transplantation. Mrs Swarana Devi, mother of Sanjay Kumar, has offered to donate one kidney to her son. |
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Move on paramedical
posts decried Nurpur, February 2 Intriguingly, 170 vacant are being filled even after the enforcement of the model code of conduct in the state. |
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RMIC entrance test Shimla, February 2 According to the information received here yesterday from Lt. Col. T.K. Chakravarti, Administration Officer, RIMC, Dehra Dun only boys are eligible to apply for admission. |
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Candidates face dissidence Firearms banned in
Chamba Cong launches poll
campaign |
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