Appointments to plum posts likely

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 21

With a consensus on about 10 names during the meeting of the BJP core group here, the much-awaited political appointment of Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of boards and corporations could take place shortly.

The top brass of the state leaders in the presence of national organisational secretary Ram Lal and state BJP incharge Mangal Pandey discussed the issue threadbare. Senior leaders like Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda, former CM PK Dhumal and state president Satpal Singh Satti also discussed the issue. It is reliably learnt that there was unanimity over about 10 names to be made Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of Boards and Corporations during the late night meeting of the core group. Besides, the appointment of former ministers and sitting MLAs Ramesh Dhawala and Narender Bragta as Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip in the Vidhan Sabha could also take place in the near future.

Party sources said it has now been left to the Chief Minister and Satti to give final touches to the list so that the appointments could be made soon. Despite the formation of the government almost nine months ago, barring a few exceptions, the political appointments have not been made.

Now it remains to be seen how soon these leaders get the reward as their patience seems to be running out and in case the party wants positive results in the parliamentary polls, the appointments will have to be made soon.

Sensing the brewing discontent among the leaders and workers over the delay in making these appointments, the senior leaders felt that the sooner the task is completed, the better it would be. Earlier, the Chief Minister and state president had said that the final decision would be taken after seeking approval of Amit Shah, who was scheduled to visit the state in September. However, now with the chances of Shah’s visit to Himachal in the near future being bleak due to Assembly elections in some states, it was felt the issue should be sorted out at the earliest.

Senior leaders admitted that the top brass of the party also sensed the demoralization among the cadres at the two-day State Executive meeting here on September 19 and 20. “There was participation of all, including ministers, MLAs and senior office bearers, but the enthusiasm was missing which is a clear indication of the dejection among the leaders,” admitted a senior leader.

With the possibility of appointment of MLAs as Chief Parliamentary Secretaries and Parliamentary Secretaries being ruled out as these fall under the purview of Office of Profit, most of the leaders are eyeing plum boards and corporations like the State Pollution Control Board, HP Tourism Development Corporation and the Civil Supplies Corporation.