New Delhi, March 8
The Congress has got down to the task of Ministry formation in Haryana with Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda having a 75-minute meeting with party chief Sonia Gandhi today.
AICC general secretary in-charge of Haryana Janardan Dwivedi was also present at the meeting. Mr Dwivedi later said the discussions were “preliminary.” He said they discussed how various regions and communities in the state were to be given representation in the Cabinet. Mr Dwivedi said no names were discussed.
The state will have 14 Ministers including the Chief Minister. Mr Hooda said he apprised Ms Gandhi of the political situation in the state. “She asked me to serve the people of the state with full honesty,” he said. He indicated that council of ministers would be formed in "a day or two." To repeated queries about proposal of a Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Hooda said that shape of things will be clear when the Cabinet is announced. Asked about support from loyalists of former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, Mr Hooda said every Congressman had faith in party policies and in in the leadership of Ms Gandhi.
Soon after their meeting with Ms Gandhi at the NAC office, Mr Dwivedi and Mr Hooda went to her 10 Janpath residence. Sources said that the two leaders were likely to meet Ms Gandhi again after finalsing proposals on forming the Cabinet. They said a formula was being worked out for “suitable
accommodation” of loyalists of Mr Bhajan Lal and other senior state leaders.
Earlier, Mr Hooda met
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his residence. The Chief Minister said he had sought the Prime Minister’s “blessings.”
“I requested him for assistance to improve the condition of the state which has deteriorated in the past few years,” Mr Hooda said.
The Chief Minister said the Prime Minister assured him of all possible assistance. He said issues relating to farmers and procurement of crops were discussed. Mr Hooda said the state government had initiated moves to provide compensation to farmers whose crops were damaged due to hailstorm.
Answering queries, Mr Hooda said his government would not indulge in political vendatta against the previous regime. “An inquiry will be held into the Congress chargesheet against the Chautala government and those found guilty will be punished.”
The Chief Minister said he would meet the Prime Minitrer again with a “status paper” on the demands of the state from the Centre.
He said that Sarkar-Apke-Dwar programme of the previous government was not beneficial for the state. “It led to centralisation of power,” he said.
The state government, he said, will work towards “restoring credibility of institutions like the State Public Service Commission and Vidhan Sabha.”
Mr Hooda said he apprised the Prime Minister about the consultations being done for ministry formation in the state.
