CM: Dharamsala may become winter capital

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, January 18

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said his government was considering a proposal to make Dharamsala the winter capital of the state and bring the government to the Kangra district headquarters for two months in winters.

The statement indicates that the Congress government is planning to target Kangra district as part of its “Mission Repeat” for the Assembly elections scheduled to be held this year. The move is likely to take the BJP by surprise as it has been advocating carving out of new districts out of Kangra as part of its election strategy.

Kangra, having 15 Assembly segments, plays a vital role in the formation of government in the state. It is said whosoever gets eight to 10 seats in Kangra forms the government in the state.

Till date, Dharamsala (Kangra district headquarters) has quasi second capital status. 

Virbhadra, who was earlier accused by the BJP of being biased against the erstwhile Punjab areas that have been merged with Himachal, got the Assembly complex constructed here to counter the propaganda. Though many leaders had been terming the one-week winter session at Dharamsala a wastage of money, no party could stop it.

The previous BJP government had gone a step further and organised the oath-taking ceremony of its Cabinet at Dharamsala. It also started the practice of making one minister sit at the Dharamsala mini secretariat to redress grievances of the people of lower areas.