Thakur to arrive for winter session today

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, January 7

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur will arrive here tomorrow for the four-day session beginning January 9. He will be accorded a warm welcome by the party workers and leaders, including local BJP MLA and Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Kishan Kapoor.

Deputy Commissioner of Kangra, Sandeep Kumar assumed charge today in view of the forthcoming session. While talking to The Tribune, Sandeep Kumar said all arrangements for the session were in place. “Since this is the first session of the new government we are expecting more people to visit Dharamsala”, he said.

Pro-term Speaker Ramesh Dhawala created a controversy by stating to a section of media that organizing the winter session of the Assembly in Dharamsala was a waste of funds. The Chief Minister, however, refuted his statement.

Several old faces will not be present in the house due to their electoral defeat or for not contesting elections. Such leaders include former CM Prem Kumar Dhumal, former Congress ministers Kaul Singh Thakur and GS Bali, veteran Congress leader Vidya strokes, state president of BJP Satpal Satti and firebrand leaders of the BJP like Ravinder Ravi and Randhir Sharma, former speaker BBL Butail and former BJP minister Gulab Singh.

All members of the state legislative Assembly would be administrated oath on the first day of the session. The first day would also see the election of permanent Speaker of the Assembly. Rajiv Bindal, MLA from Nahan, has been announced as Speaker. Interestingly, the father-son duo of former CM Virbhadra Singh and Vikramaditya would be present in the House together for the first time. Both the BJP and the Congress will be witnessing generational change in the state leadership. The new BJP Cabinet has five first-time ministers. The Congress has for the first time given the post of Leader of Opposition to Mukesh Agnihotri from lower Himachal area. Earlier, only the leaders from upper Himachal had been occupying the post.

Since the state government has just taken over not much business is expected in the House. There will not be any Question Hour. However, new ministers will hold meetings of their respective departments in Dharamsala, sources here said.

Business on day 1

• All members of the state legislative Assembly would be administrated oath on the first day of the session. 
• The first day would also see the election of permanent Speaker of the Assembly. 
• Rajiv Bindal, MLA from Nahan, is the Speaker.