Even because the Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP) introduced its listing of candidates for the upcoming meeting elections in Himachal Pradesh, a number of disgruntled leaders filed nominations as Independents. Chief minister Jairam Thakur instructed Chetan Chauhan in an interview that efforts had been on to reconcile with these leaders and disciplinary motion can be taken in opposition to those that don’t again down. He additionally touched on a number of different subjects, together with the Previous Pension Scheme and improvement within the state. Edited Excerpts:
BJP is going through insurrection in as many as 22 of 68 meeting constituencies. How are you making an attempt to quell it?
The celebration has change into greater and the aspirations of our leaders have additionally change into massive. Many leaders demanded tickets and now, now we have to comply with what the celebration has determined. We’re in contact with insurgent candidates and are attempting to persuade them to withdraw. Two days are left for withdrawal of celebration nominations and I hope we will persuade a few of them. We’re getting some success. Let’s wait and watch.
What would be the possible influence of the insurrection and what motion might be taken if the rebels don’t withdraw?
Rebels are there in Congress in addition to the BJP, although the issue might seem greater for us. We are going to take disciplinary motion in opposition to those that don’t withdraw.
How massive of an electoral difficulty is the restoration of the previous pension scheme (OPS)?
Workers in Himachal play a major position within the state’s improvement. There isn’t a denying it. We did rather a lot for them they usually agree. It was Virbhadra Singh because the Congress authorities chief minister in 2003 who accepted the proposal to cease OPS. He may have refused, like West Bengal. Himachal was the primary state to implement the brand new pension scheme. This raises a query mark over the Congress’s intention and knowledge. Virbhadra got here again to energy in 2012 and by no means restored OPS. Now, after 20 years, Congress is utilizing it for political causes, which isn’t appropriate.
OPS can’t be applied with out the Centre’s monetary assist. It’s not attainable even for Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan (Congress-ruled states). I noticed CMs of those two states urging the Prime Minister for monetary assist to implement OPS. Issuing the notification and giving OPS are two totally different points. If there’s a answer to the pension difficulty, it is going to be discovered by the BJP because the Congress won’t come again to energy for many years.
How massive are the problems of inflation and unemployment in these elections?
These are international points and have been necessary in all elections. These points are current amongst individuals however they perceive that this stuff are usually not a creation of the current authorities. Congress is elevating them and it might have some influence. However, I don’t suppose it is going to be a lot. We’re telling individuals about improvement introduced in by us and the response is nice.
Is improvement a key electoral difficulty in Himachal?
Our improvement work is clearly seen. Now we have proven that our work is far more than all earlier Congress governments. Now we have constructed 5,000 kms of roads within the state, as in comparison with the typical of two,500 kms in the identical intervals earlier, which is a report.
In 75 years, solely 750,000 houses had been supplied with consuming water, we offered water to 850,000 houses in three years. Regardless of that, improvement generally shouldn’t be an enormous election difficulty. I need to add that Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has contributed rather a lot and gave medical faculties, AIIMS, Atal Tunnel, the majority drug park to the state. A number of massive initiatives got here to Himachal due to him.
There may be notion that the Congress is making an attempt to garner sympathy within the state for late Virbhadra Singh (he died in 2021). Feedback?
This clearly reveals that the Congress doesn’t have state leaders immediately. There are solely regional leaders and that’s the reason, one who shouldn’t be on this world is being projected as their chief. This actually saddens me. This reveals the Congress’s failure as they don’t have management with out him (Virbhadra). Now we have a protracted listing of leaders within the state and nation. In Himachal, the actual emotional join individuals have is with PM Modi, who considers the state his second dwelling.
Do you suppose the Congress’s low key profile is choosing up and can influence the BJP?
In Himachal, the competition is between the BJP and the Congress. We settle for the Congress’s problem and are assured of our win.