Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Congress Himachal Pradesh in-charge Bhupesh Baghel spoke with The Indian Categorical throughout an intense marketing campaign section, with polling a number of days to go. The social gathering is seeking to make good points, as BJP faces riot warmth. It’s not a double-engine, however a trouble-engine sarkar, he says. Excerpts:
Q. With polling a number of days away, the place does the Congress discover itself in Himachal?
A. We’re assured in our method. At current, we’re on the trail to a transparent majority after a snug victory.
Q. With a number of visits by PM Modi, House Minister Amit Shah and different central-level leaders, the BJP is leaving no stone unturned in its marketing campaign. For Congress, moreover Priyanka Gandhi, there is no such thing as a main face. Does the absence of Rahul Gandhi point out the social gathering’s half-hearted method?
A. It isn’t one individual’s determination whether or not Rahul Gandhi will come or not. Moreover, he’s busy with the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which is being witnessed by the nation. Is paidal ki yatra ki dhamak bahut dur tak sunai de rahi hai (The sound of this yatra is being heard in all places.)
The primary factor is that social gathering staff and folks of Himachal are watching the yatra. They usually can see that their chief has been strolling for 2 months throughout the nation, elevating points like unemployment and inflation. The problems raised within the yatra are widespread with these confronted by folks in Himachal. Therefore, there’s a sense of affiliation.
Q. The BJP is going through riot in not less than 20 seats. How does the Congress see this taking part in out?
A. The BJP at all times claims they’re a celebration of self-discipline. The place is that self-discipline? PM is coming, Nadda is right here, and but their very own individuals are not listening. Selections taken by the social gathering’s excessive command are being questioned. There are indicators of bother for them and within the elections, it can play out clearly.
Q. Does this additionally counsel that Jai Ram Thakur was a weak CM and chief?
A. That is one thing to which the BJP should reply. In any case, they’re answerable for his or her decisions. On the finish of the day, this isn’t Double Engine Sarkar, however a Hassle Engine Sarkar. Farmer incomes haven’t doubled, relatively, they’ve halved. Costs are sky excessive and the youth are with out jobs. The 5 years have been disastrous for the state.
Q. For the Congress, OPS is the marquee scheme. The template is predicated on states the place it has been carried out, together with Chattisgarh. How will the Congress make sure that obligatory funds are raised for this scheme in Himachal?
A. The scheme was modified within the 12 months 2004. Since then, a portion of the salaries are being deposited with the central authorities. The corpus is now price Rs 17,000 crore. For the time being, we’ve got written to the central authorities, demanding that the cash be duly given to the staff. However they’ve mentioned they will’t do this.
We’ve requested them the rationale why they will’t do it. That is a vital side. The federal government can’t preserve withholding it. On the finish of the day, the cash belongs to the staff. We’re additionally searching for authorized recommendation on it.
One other method is that the staff will start to withdraw the cash. Some folks have already achieved so in Rajasthan. The actual fact stays that there’s sufficient political will to implement OPS for the good thing about workers.
Q. Since Virbhadra Singh’s demise, the Congress has been affected by factionalism, with a number of CM faces and a number of other camps within the state. Received’t infighting negatively impression the social gathering’s efficiency?
A. We should view it by a special lens. For instance, in Assam, there was a realisation that there is no such thing as a management to observe after (Tarun) Gogoi. A number of CM faces are, in actual fact, factor, as a result of it exhibits the social gathering is invested in a second line of management. This additionally means the social gathering shouldn’t be reliant on one chief, and that there’s alternative for social gathering staff to rise. This may work in favour of the social gathering and the state sooner or later.