Woman power stumps them all

The manner in which the Congress ticket for Prem Kaushal for contesting the Bhoranj by-poll was changed at the last minute has political circles abuzz with the clout that the new candidate – Pramila Devi enjoys. Despite the ticket being formally given to Kaushal and a formal letter from the AICC circulated to the media, Pramila did not give up with some ministers in the Cabinet and also some leaders from Hamirpur Congress pleading her case vociferously.

“She is so powerful that she can get the ticket changed even after formal announcement,” quip many senior Congress leaders. However, what baffles everyone is as to who pleaded her case when both Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and state Congress president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu have been feigning ignorance about the last minute change that tilted the scales in favour of Pramila.

So should one conclude that she has very high level connections even higher than the CM and the Congress chief? “Do you trust politicians when they say I am not aware of any change in the ticket? ” is a simple explanation given by a simple party worker.

Has 2nd capital move boomeranged?

Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh played a master stroke by declaring Dharamsala as second capital, hoping that it will turn electoral fortune of the Congress in the merged areas. But probably he did not realise that it could boomerang and cause ripples in old areas, especially in Shimla, home district of the Chief Minister.

The Congress leaders initially tried to claim credit for the move but now they seem to be on the back foot trying to explain to the people in the old areas that “no office would be shifted and no employee would be transferred”. The employees of state secretariat are non –transferable and once second capital becomes functional, sword of transfer would hang over their heads and realizing that the move could have far reaching consequences in future, they are upset.

Already , Balbir Verma, an Independent MLA, supporting the government for past four-and-a-half years, has parted ways and is set to join the BJP on this issue. Senior BJP leader and sitting MLA from Shimla Suresh Bhardwaj has queered the pitch by alleging that the “importance of Shimla is being undermined.”

Once bitten, twice shy

Food and Civil Supplies Minister GS Bali got a rousing welcome at the Dharamsala mini secretariat when he came there this week to hold a press conference. Senior bureaucrats from the district were waiting with bouquets to welcome him. Coming of ministers from Kangra district to Dharamsala secretariat was a routine but the welcome accorded to GS Bali surprised many. Inquiries revealed that unusual welcome was to escape the ire of the minister. During the last visit to the secretariat the minister had expressed his displeasure at the absence of senior bureaucrats whenever he came to the Dharamsala mini secretariat. The displeasure of the minister was also reported in media. So this time when the minister came the officers took no chance and went an extra mile to please the powerful minister from Kangra.

Change of power blues

With an anticipated reshuffle in the bureaucracy after the Vidhan Sabha session assuming significance, especially in view of the ensuing assembly polls, the officials occupying plum postings are now desperately looking for safe haven.

Having enjoyed the fruits of proximity with the ruling party, they were seen discussing their fate in case there was a change of power in the state. While some had already started paying secret visits to the senior leaders of the opposition BJP, others, who were circumspect, were maintaining their PR though the cell phones though fearing clandestine tapping of their mobiles even though they were using SIMs registered in other states. This was especially true for officials posted in the bordering areas who commuted from Chandigarh and its periphery.