HVC threatens to pull out
Berth for Markandey sought
From S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 10 — The Himachal Vikas Congress has threatened the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, to induct their MLA, Mr Ram Lal Markandey, into his ministry within seven days or else it will withdraw support to the BJP government.

The HVC presidents of nine districts met here last evening to review the situation arising due to the denial of a ministerial berth to "their man'' and adopted a resolution asking the party chief, Mr Sukh Ram, to withdraw support to the BJP if Mr Markandey was not included in the ministry within seven days.

They warned that they would not allow any change in the portfolios of the ministers belonging to the HVC. The meeting, which was held under the chairmanship of Mr Amar Nath Kaushal HVC district president of Solan, said Mr Dhumal had not responded positively to the "sacrifices" made by the HVC in helping him form the government.

The resolution criticised Mr Dhumal for not taking Mr Sukh Ram into confidence before expanding his ministry. They said Mr Markandey should be made a minister as the post of Parliamentary Secretary was not acceptable.

Another resolution advised Mr Dhumal not to "betray" the HVC which had played a key role in revolving the previous "feudal" government and installing the BJP-HVC combine government in the state. At least 16 BJP candidates had won the assembly seats because of Mr Sukh Ram's help, it observed.

The HVC had asked its two legislators to join the BJP to ensure the formation of the Dhumal government. The Mandi Lok Sabha seat had been won by the BJP only because of the help of the HVC, the resolution stated.

The leader pointed out that HVC activists were being denied chairmanship of boards and corporations.

Mr Markandey, who recently won the tribal seat of Lahaul-Spiti, was expecting a ministerial berth in yesterday's expansion of ministry.

This was confirmed by the PWD Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh, an HVC MLA, this morning. Mr, Mohinder Singh said the issue had been discussed with the HVC chief, Mr Sukh Ram, who had also endorsed the demand of Mr Markandey.

Mr Dhumal, when contacted, said he would discuss the matter with Mr Sukh Ram. Mr Markandey was expected to be taken as Parliamentary Secretary yesterday when Mr Chet Ram Negi of the BJP, who represents the neighbouring tribal segment of Kinnaur, was inducted as Parliamentary Secretary.

However, Mr Markandey refused to accept the post claiming that during his election campaign, Mr, Dhumal had promised the electorate of Lahaul-Spiti that he would be made a minister if he won.

Mr Markandey is the lone HVC legislator among the three party MLAs without a ministerial post. There were reports that Mr Sukh Ram had lobbied for a berth for him in the ministry.

The two other HVC MLAs, Mr Mansa Ram and Mr Prakash Chand, who were made to join the BJP for "technical reasons" are also ministers.

On the other hand, BJP leaders are critical that Mr Sukh Ram is expecting too much of Mr Dhumal. All his party MLAs have been given ministerial berths and now Mr, Sukh Ram is asking for inclusion of Mr Markandey, a first-time legislator, into the ministry, they argue.

This is perhaps, the first time that representation has not been given to the tribal areas in the ministry.

It is learnt that the Chief Minister is facing problems in allocation of portfolios among his ministerial colleagues after the expansion in which seven Ministers of State have been inducted.

Mr Dhumal has so far not been able to finalise the portfolios reportedly because of pulls and pressure from his partymen who are demanding important departments for the ministers belonging to the BJP.