Himachal Chief Minister's human face and expansion of Cabinet

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Himachal Chief Minister's human face and expansion of Cabinet

Monday, 30 January 2023 | PNS

BEYOND THE NEWS/K.S.TOMAR

Congress high command’s decision to put its weight behind Sukhivnder Singh Sukhu, hailing from modest family background and a struggler who sold milk and newspapers to support his higher studies in Shimla, was evidence and reflection of logical and rational decision which has been missing since several years, especially after ‘self-destructive path’ adopted by it in Punjab.

Analysts opine that Sukhu has undergone metamorphism from his image of having an attitude of confrontation to a mild and flexible personality which is being witnessed in his smooth sailing with state president, Pratibha Singh wife of the late six-time chief minister, Virbhadra Singh. It is an open secret that Sukhu’s dream was fulfilled with the blessings of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

 Without wasting time, Sukhu started taking some important decisions which did bring him to the limelight. One of the well-publicized decisions pertained to creation of Rs 101 crore ‘Mukhya Mantri Sukhashraya Sahayata Kosh’ which will be utilized for the higher education and day-to-day needs of about six thousand orphan children.  All the 40 Congress MLAs will provide Rs 1 lakh each from their first salary towards this fund and more funds would be collected from industries under corporate social responsibility. The state government would act as the parents of these kids and they would also get Rs 4000 as pocket money also.

Recalling his personal experience, Sukhu dwelt upon the woes of one of the orphans who used to feel sad on the occasion of celebrations of the festivals hence he used to bring him to his home .”It was this emotional torture which always reigned supreme in my mind hence when Almighty gave me a chance, I went ahead with a gesture of creating the special fund for the welfare of such unfortunate creatures” he said. The new government has also canceled about nine hundred institutions that were opened by the previous BJP regime to win the assembly but ignored the norms.

 The Cabinet will review these decisions if some institutions fulfilled the parameters then they will be allowed to function in future. Sukhu remarked “ I was shocked when I came to know that the contractor of the parking near lift in Shimla had not paid arrears since past eight years hence water and electricity connections have been disconnected. Cabinet expansion is over and Kangra will be due weightage in near future hence none should try to make it a political issue. State government will also provide Rs 500 festive grants to inmates of all child care institutions, old age homes, nari seva sadan, shakti sadan and special homes, ‘Yeh Karuna Nahin, Adhikar Hai’ (this is not compassion but the right of these children”                  

 Chief minister has accomplished the task of cabinet expansion and allocation of the portfolios to the ministers after holding wide range of consultations with party high command which also paved the way for fulfillment of a major poll promise of restoration of the Old Pension Scheme(OPS) to 1.36 lakh employees. Sukhu has not distributed more than half a dozen important portfolios and Town and country planning, forest, science and technology, fisheries etc. which have been held back for the would-be ministers  from Kangra and left out districts in near future to eliminate the regional imbalance. BJP tried to exploit the issue of non-induction of an adequate number of ministers from the biggest districts.

Regarding the importance of distribution of portfolios, high command and CM have given due weightage to Virbhadra’s sacrifices and contributions to Congress especially when assembly polls were fought on his legacy. In lieu of it, his son and two-time MLA, Vikramaditya got the most important department, PWD, which will be under pressure to deliver.  Being a junior minister, Vikramaditya will be expected to seek guidance from Sukhu to ensure his success in the government.

Deputy CM, Mukesh Agnihotri got the Irrigation and Public health besides transport corporation after his elevation who may expose the reckless tenders issued by the department, daily wages recruitments without adhering to norms, a ‘latent idea’ of opting for huge purchases of pipes that too for next twenty years? Similarly, transport corporation is under dire economic stress and it will be an uphill task to streamline their work.

Six-time MLA, Harhsvardhan Singh got an opportunity after a long wait of 25 years as former speaker, Gangu Ram Musafir used to get priority during Virbhadra regime who has ditched the congress and revolted against the party thereby ensuring the victory of BJP nominee. Harshvardhan got an important department of industry and parliamentary affairs which will test his caliber.

BJP has suffered heavily in the apple belt hence new horticulture minister, Jagat Singh Negi representing Kinnaur has been given preference who understands the woes of orchardists. The previous BJP government is accused of completely ignoring apple growers and hence paid a heavy price in the election. Dr(Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil will be required to focus on infrastructure in the health sector which is horribly in bad shape having no doctors, nurses etc in interior areas institutions, especially in villages. Rohit’s challenge pertains to improvement in the quality of higher education and efforts to redesign the transfer policy for teachers who indulge in manipulations to get places of their choice and run away from serving in hard areas which normally remain understaffed.

New agriculture minister, Chander Kumar has got vast experience hence farmers are optimistic about the introduction of some innovative measures to protect their interests and get the reasonable price of their produce. Rural development and Panchayati Raj minister,  Anirudh Singh will have to come up with a new mechanism to guarantee the percolation of benefits of government’s social welfare  schemes to the rural masses.

Political observers opine that Sukhu is giving priority to the issues as per ten guarantees of Congress manifesto hence BJP has got no alternative but to reconcile with the harsh truth of humiliating defeat suffered by it in assembly despite Modi Charisma, vast resources, RSS cadre and friendly official state machinery.

(The Writer is a political analyst and senior journalist based in Shimla. Views expressed are personal)

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