Kangra unhappy over portfolio allocations

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, December 31

The newly inducted ministers received a rousing welcome at their home constituencies yesterday. 

Residents at some places expressed resentment over the raw deal given to Kangra ministers.

The lone woman minister in the Cabinet, Sarveen Chaudhary, a four-time MLA and former minister, arrived in Shahpur. She has been allocated the Town and Country Planning and Urban Development Department, earlier held by Sudhir Sharma during the Congress regime. During the previous BJP regime, Sarveen Chaudhary was the Social Security and Women Empowerment Department.

Four-time MLA and one of the senior-most BJP leaders from Dharamsala, Kishan Kapoor, arrived in his constituency today. He also received a rousing welcome from supporters at various places. 

During the previous BJP government, Kishan Kapoor held the portfolio of Transport and Town and Country Planning. Then he was allocated Industries, Mining, Labour and Employment. This time, he has been given the charge of Food and Civil Supplies and Election Department. Vipin Parmar, MLA from Sullah and first-time minister, has got the Health Family Welfare and Ayurveda Department. 

Bikram Thakur is another first-time minister from Kangra district representing Jaswan Pragpur. 

He has been allocated Industries, Mining, Labour and Employment.

A BJP leader from the district said leaders from Mandi lobbied and managed to get better portfolios. 

There is resentment among the OBC community as their leader Ramesh Dhawala was not inducted into the Cabinet.  Sources said Dhawala had left for Delhi.