Not invited to CM’s function, BJP leaders lodge protest

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, February 16

The Dehra unit of the BJP is at loggerheads with the local independent MLA, Hoshiar Singh, over the proposed programmes of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur in the constituency on February 19.

Sources here said the BJP Mandal of Dehra has protested to state president of party Rajiv Bindal and organizing secretary Pawan Rana as they had not been invited to the Chief Minister’s programmes. The sources here also said that the former BJP minister Ravinder Ravi, who lost the last Assembly elections to independent MLA Hoshiar Singh, had also lodged protest at not being invited for Chief Minister’s functions.

Block president of BJP in Dehra Nirmal Kumar, while talking to The Tribune, said thay were not informed about the Chief Minister’s programmes in the constituency. As per the protocol, it was the prerogative of local unit of the party to host the programmes of the Chief Minister whenever, he visited the area. However, in the present case, the local unit of the party was not even invited, he said.

Naresh Kumar said that they had met the Chief Minister when he visited Takkipur government college and protested at being ignored. “It was only after that the SDM Dehra sent us the schedule of the Chief Minister in Dehra constituency. We have also complained to the party organizing secretary Pawan Rana for not being taken into confidence during the Chief Minister’s programs”, he said.

Sukrit Sagar, vice president of Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha, said it was unfortunate that at the instance of independent MLA Hoshiar Singh the party organization was being taken for a ride. “We have nothing against the Chief Minister but it seems the district administration was giving preference to the independent MLA over BJP party organization. As a protest we are not going to attend the personal functions of independent MLA Hoshiar Singh that would be inaugurated by the Chief Minister during his visit to Dehra”.

Ravinder Ravi, former minister, when contacted, was more guarded in his response. He said that the local unit was not informed about the Chief Minister’s program which was unfortunate. When asked if he had complained to the state president of party regarding the issue, Ravi refused to comment.

The Dehra unit of BJP has been at loggerheads with the independent MLA, Hoshiar Singh, who is considered close to the CM Jairam Thakur.

Over the past few months the local unit of the BJP has started raising its voice against the MLA and incomplete development works in the region. The issue of poor Dehra-Guler road for which the government had issued Rs 10 crores under Central Road Fund (CRF) has also been a contentious issue. The local BJP leaders are alleging that construction of the road could not completed due to political interference which was indirect attack on the local independent MLA.