Growth, a tall story in the hill state

Pratibha Chauhan

Amid accusations about the RSS playing a key role in all important decisions, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur seems firmly entrenched in his role, especially in view of the spectacular victory that the BJP got in the Lok Sabha elections.

Though striking a balance between BJP heavyweights — from BJP chief JP Nadda to former CMs Shanta Kumar and PK Dhumal — remains an arduous task, the CM seems far more confident than he was in his first year in office. Even as he dismisses talk of RSS interference in government functioning, it is more than evident that he has to abide by the RSS diktat and keep the pracharaks in good humour.

He has been trying to pursue the BJP’s agenda of protecting the cow by setting up cow sanctuaries and gau sadans but the progress has been slow as land is still being identified for the task. Though money is flowing into the fund from a portion of the offerings made at temples and Re 1 each from the sale of every liquor bottle, the idea is yet to take concrete shape on ground.

Task cut out

The BJP’s stunning performance in the Lok Sabha polls, where the party did not just win all four parliamentary seats but got the highest vote share of 70 per cent in the entire country, has certainly boosted the confidence of the CM. The victory in the two bypolls in Dharamsala and Pachhad reaffirm that he is firmly entrenched in the saddle. While he remains down-to-earth and popular across party lines, he is yet to exhibit his administrative skills. Loyalists feel the absence of a strong bureaucratic team is making his task tougher.

The financial health of the state is yet another issue weighing heavily on his mind as the debt trap has spiralled to almost Rs51,000 crore. An effort has been made by him to attract investment and create the much-needed jobs by holding a Global Investors Meet in November. A total of 703 MoUs worth Rs96,000 crore were signed, assuring employment for 1.96 lakh youth, but only time will tell how many of these translate into projects.

The debt combined with a humongous fiscal deficit of over Rs7,300 crore and 8.63 lakh unemployed, expectations from the government are huge. With the Centre failing to provide any major financial package to Himachal, a state that PM Modi calls home, the situation is far from rosy.

The highs

Nadda at the helm

In June, JP Nadda, Rajya Sabha MP from Himachal, was elevated as working president of the BJP after Amit Shah’s induction as Union Home Minister. Though the reins of the party still remain in the hands of Shah, the appointment was a matter of prestige for a state like Himachal.

Making it to Modi cabinet

Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur was elevated as Minister of State in the Modi Cabinet. He was entrusted the responsibility of the important Ministry of Finance. His induction came as a major shot in the arm for the Dhumal family which had been lying low since the defeat of the former CM in the 2017 Assembly polls. Dhumal’s younger son, Arun, later became treasurer of the Board of Cricket Control.

The lows

Tragedy on wheels

Overloading led to death of 46 persons at Banjar in Kullu district in June. More than 82 persons were travelling in the private bus when the mishap took place on Kullu-Gada Gushaini route, 2 km from Banjar bus stand. The bus rolled into a deep gorge.

In the name of son

Anil Sharma, son of former Telecommunication Minister Sukh Ram, had to lose his ministerial berth in the BJP after his son Ashray Sharma was given the Congress ticket from Mandi Lok Sabha constituency. Anil Sharma resigned from the BJP as pressure was mounted on him by the party leadership.

Avalanche strikes six Army jawans

Six Army personnel of the 7 Jammu and Kashmir (JAK) Rifles died in the avalanche that buried them near Shipki La border outpost in the tribal district of Kinnaur on February 20. The army personnel were patrolling along the border with China.

Building collapse

Tragedy struck when 14 army personnel posted at Dagshai in Solan district were buried alive in a building collapse at Kumarhatti in July.  The structure had been raised in violation of building norms and was not stable.