Solan, January 7
While the candidate belonging to the ruling Congress party won the election to the post of Chairman of Solan block samiti the opposition BJP candidate managed to win the election to the Vice-Chairman’s post.

The elections, which concluded here today, under the chairmanship of SDM K.C. Chaman, witnessed a keen contest. Both the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman managed to poll 11 votes out of the total 17. This indicated that a tactic understanding had been reached upon between the eight Congress-backed candidates and two BJP-backed candidates to vote in favour of each other. Lone support was also provided by one of the three independent candidates.

Congress-backed candidate Ramesh Chauhan was elected as Chairman while BJP supported Jeet Ram won the election to the Vice-Chairman’s post. The BJP’s official candidate Sunder Singh managed to secure only three votes while the third contestant Ganesh Dutt had to remain content with three votes.

On the other hand Congress’ official candidate Ranvir who contested for the Vice-Chairman’s post managed to get only five votes. This indicated that at least three Congress candidates voted in favour of the BJP candidate. Interestingly, the Congress-backed candidates had bagged eight seats out of the total 17 in the Solan Panchayat Samiti elections.

The BJP candidate managed to secure the top post in the Dharampur Block Samit where Rama Devi was elected as the chairperson while Congress-backed Bhupender won the vice-chairman’s post. The Congress-backed candidates won both the posts at Kunihaar where Neelam Raghuvanshi and Kanhaya Ram were elected as the Chairperson and Vice-Chairman, respectively. In Kandhghat Block Samiti another keen contest was witnessed where Congress-backed candidate Narayan Singh, who was a hot contender for the top post, did not contest and Rameshwar Dutt managed to capture the top post. Vijay Aggarwal of the Congress was elected Vice-Chairman.

The elections to the Nalagarh Block Samiti, however, could not take place due to lack of quorum.

KULU: Congress candidates won elections to the posts of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of three out of five Block Development Panchayat samitis in this district. The elections to the Banjar and Ani Blocks could not be held due to lack of quorum.

In the Kulu Block, Mr Shashi Pal Singh won the election to the post of Chairman by one vote. He defeated Mr Nettar Thakur. Mr Shashi Pal Singh secured 17 votes and Nettar Thakur 16. Mr Sali Ram was elected Vice-Chairman. He also defeated Mr Prem Chand by one vote. In the Naggar Block Ms Manorama Thakur were elected Chairperson and Dile Ram Vice-Chairman, respectively, unanimously.

In the 14-member Nirmand Development Block, the election of Ms Kanta Devi to the post of Chairperson was unanimous while Mr Upender Kant Mishra defeated Mr Ram Lal Thakur by two votes.

In Banjar and Ani Development Blocks, where elections were deferred today due to want of quorum, would be held on January 14.

RECKONG PEO: Mr Bishuk Sen of the BJP was today elected unopposed as Chairman of the Kalpa Block Development Committee (BDC) while elections in Nichar and Pooh blocks could not be conducted as the required quorum of members was not fulfilled in the respective election meetings called by the presiding officers of the district administration. Ms Surma Devi also of the BJP was elected unopposed as the Vice-Chairman of Kalpa BDC.

Reports from Nichar Block revealed that not even a single member out of the total of 15 newly elected members came to attend the election meeting. In pooh, only one member out of 15 newly elected members attended the election meeting. Thus the presiding officers designated by the district administration in both these blocks had postponed the elections in these two blocks. The elections will now be held on January 14.

Shimla: The elections to the post of chairman and vice-chairman in four of the nine Block Development Committees (BDCs) in the district could not be held due to lack of quorum today.

The elections for the post of chairman and vice-chairman of Jubbal-Kotkhai, Chirgaon, Chopal and Theog will now be held on January 14.

In Basantpur block, Ms Dharmila Defi was unanimously elected chairperson, while Mr Ramesh Sharma was elected vice-chairman. In Mashobra panchayat samiti, Ms Vijay Jyoti Sen was elected chairperson, while Mr Tara Singh Kanwar was chosen vice-chairman.

In Narkanda block, Ms Sunita Verma was elected chairperson and Mr Luxmi Praksh Rathore was elected vice-chairman. In Rohru, Mr Manjeet Singh Thakur was elected chairman, while Mrs Rekha Chauhan was elected vice-chairperson.

In Rampur panchayat samiti, Mr Atma Ram was elected chairman, while Ms Santosh was elected vice-chairperson.

Nahan: Congress candidates were elected office-bearers in the Nahan and Pacchad panchayat samities. Elections to four more panchayat samities could not be conducted as a majority of members did not turn up.

Congress captured the Nahan panchayat samiti as Yashpal and Mahender Singh were elected Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the samiti, respectively. In the Pacchad panchayat samiti, Congress candidate Rama Devi was elected Chairperson and Roop Dutt Vice-Chairman.

The next date for elections has been fixed for January 14.

Dharamsala, January 7
With an aim to benefit around 15 lakh SC members during the current financial year, Rs 173.12 crore, is being spent on them under the Special Component Plan. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh stated this here today while chairing the second state-level meeting of the Scheduled Caste Welfare Board.

He said Deputy Commissioners had been authorised to allot two biswas for the construction of a house to members of the Balmiki community.

The government, he said, had launched a plan, earmarking 11 per cent of the plan size over and above the regular budgetary provisions in this regard.

He said development in SC-dominated villages was being taken up on a priority basis.

He said soft loan schemes for the uplift of the community were being implemented through the SC/ST Developmental Cooperation.

He said in government service, 15 per cent reservation on direct recruitment and promotion to Classes I and II was being provided while in Classes III and IV recruitment, 22 per cent reservation was implemented.

He directed the authorities to disburse the payment under the death insurance scheme to IRDP families.

The matter for setting up of a vulture breeding farm in the state would be taken up with the Government of India.

Mandi, January 7 
A boy riding a motor cycle was killed in an accident with a bus near Pandoh today. He died on his way to hospital.

The police said the bus (HP-33-9044) had been impounded and its driver Kamaljit arrested. A case has also been registered against him. 

The victim was identified as Hitesh Kumar, a resident of Old Mandi town here. In another incident, the police today recovered the body of a beggar hanging from a bridge across the Beas in the town. Nobody has claimed the body so far.