MLA threatens to quit over ‘bias against Chintpurni’

Rajesh Sharma

Una, August 25

A political drama was witnessed in the BJP here today when Chintpurni MLA Balbir Chaudhary threatened to resign from the Vidhan Sabha after expressing his anguish to Rural Development Minister Virender Kanwar and Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur regarding a “step-motherly” treatment being meted out to his constituency. A series of events unfolded and it ended up with a government notification inviting public objections/ suggestions for including Amb in the list of urban local bodies, intended to placate the livid MLA.

Chaudhary told mediapersons in Chintpurni that he was travelling to Shimla to meet the Chief Minister and tender his resignation, as he was unable to perform his duties as a public representative under the present circumstances.

As per reports, the MLA was particularly unhappy that Amb gram panchayat had not been upgraded to a nagar panchayat, the announcement of which the Chief Minister had made during his visit to Chintpurni about a year ago. As per a recent government notification, Amb panchayat has not been upgraded to an urban body, but merely split into two gram panchayats.

The MLA was also reportedly upset that IAS and IPS probationary officers were posted in the Chintpurni segment and they were not aware of the local issues. He rued that the constituency had become a training centre for new officers.

The office-bearers of the Chintpurni BJP unit also stood firmly behind the MLA and boycotted the semi-virtual rally of the state executive held this morning. The office-bearers from all five Assembly segments of the district were to gather at the zila parishad hall in Una city for the rally but none from Chintpurni, barring HIMUDA Vice-Chairman Parveen Sharma, attended it.

Chaudhary expressed his annoyance to Rural Development Minister Virender Kanwar, who also holds the charge of Panchayati Raj, over the telephone this morning, holding him responsible for not allowing the upgrade of Amb gram panchayat to a nagar panchayat.

He then called up the Chief Minister and expressed his anguish to him. Incidentally, Thakur is to address a virtual rally for the Chintpurni Assembly segment tomorrow and initiate projects estimated at Rs 170 crore.

Meanwhile, a call to Chaudhary’s cellphone was answered by someone who said, “Sahib is busy in a meeting with the Bilaspur Deputy Commissioner and cannot talk to you right now”.

His grievances

• As per reports, MLA Balbir Chaudhary was particularly unhappy that Amb gram panchayat had not been upgraded to a nagar panchayat, the announcement of which was made about a year ago.
• He was also reportedly upset that IAS and IPS probationary officers were posted in Chintpurni and they were not aware of local issues.
• He rued that the constituency had become a training centre for new officers and hence development was suffering.

CM’s virtual rally today

• CM Jai Ram Thakur is to address a virtual rally for the Chintpurni Assembly constituency on Wednesday and initiate projects estimated at Rs170 crore.
• The office-bearers of the Chintpurni BJP unit boycotted the semi-virtual rally of the state executive Tuesday morning.
• The office-bearers from all five Assembly segments of the district were to gather at the zila parishad hall in Una city for the rally, but none from Chintpurni, barring HIMUDA Vice-Chairman Parveen Sharma, attended it.