2 ministers still with HVC
From Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 4 — In a subtle move, which could have far-reaching consequences for the BJP-HVC coalition government, Mr Mansa Ram and Mr Prakash Chaudhary, ministers, today stated that they continued to be members of the Himachal Vikas Congress and their joining the BJP at the time of formation of government was a "stage-managed" act.

In a statement issued here, the two, who were elected on the HVC ticket but joined the BJP after engineering a "tactical split" in the HVC to thwart Mr Virbhadra Singh from forming the government, said there was no legal split of the party and as such they continued to be its’ members.

Mr Sukh Ram, who termed the move as a "masterstroke", had all along maintained that the two ministers were members of the HVC for all practical purposes and the BJP should have no misgivings in this regard. He has been unhappy with the Dhumal government and often complaining that despite the "sacrifice" made by his party, it is not being given due share in power.

A shrewd politician, Mr Sukh Ram has by this move made it clear to Mr Dhumal that he still holds the lever of power and his government cannot survive without his support.

The latest development will also have a bearing on the petition pending with the Speaker challenging the split in the HVC and the subsequent merger of the two-member splinter group into the BJP.

Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, who has been engaged in a tight-rope walk all through, will have more sleepless nights. With the two ministers denying that they were members of BJP, the strength of the party will be reduced to 32 in the 68-member House. Thus, despite the support of an Independent, it will be short of a simple majority. It will have to rely on the support of the HVC which has five members.

Mr Sukh Ram will now try to assert his authority more forcefully and keep Mr Dhumal under pressure. The HVC already has four ministers in the Cabinet while the fifth member, Mr Sukh Ram himself, who resigned from the ministry following the filing of a charge sheet against him, heads the employment generation committee.

However, he has been nursing a grouse that the HVC has not been given a fair share in the appointment of chairpersons of various board and corporation. Besides, the HVC has not been consulted in transfers of key officers and important policy decisions.

Just before the Baijnath byelection, Mr Sukh Ram had asked for the resignations of all ministers to pressurise Mr Dhumal to leave the seat for the HVC. He relented only after Mr Dhumal redressed some of his grievances.