Taking cue from BJP

The Congress seems to have lost its originality and taking a cue even for slogan-mongering from the BJP. The latest borrowed political cliché was ‘margdarshak’, an honourable epithet given to the BJP oldies such as LK Advani, M M Joshi and others. Congress turks borrowed it and applied to great grand old man of the Congress, Virbhadra Singh. The Raja was, however, furious and dismissed it. He declared that though 84, he could not be categotised as a ‘margdarshak’. The Congress is framing its slogans like the ones already coined by the BJP which will paint the Congress in a bad light, says a party worker. Has the Congress run so short of ideas that it cannot even coin its own slogans? he asks.

Hard nut to crack

Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has proved to be a hard nut to crack. Even when there is a clamour within the party to remove him he has stood his ground. Undeterred by such moves, he gave a clear message to his detractors in the Solan rally that he was well aware of the partymen who were covertly aligning with the BJP and damaging the party’s prospects.

Since the assertion was made before the AICC general secretary and state incharge Rajni Patil, it gave a clear message to his detractors. The gaping chasm within the Congress was all too evident and Patil had an arduous task in uniting all factions.

D’sala hoteliers peeved

About 150 hotels have lost their power connections in Dharamsala over illegal constructions. In a recent move, the corporation ordered power disconnection of major hotels on the Dalai Lama temple road. However, ironically most of the hotels are still functioning. Inquiries from power department revealed that for such hotels the corporation issued amended orders.

It asked the power department officials to cut power of only unauthorized portions of illegal hotels while the rest of buildings were allowed to function. This has peeved about 128 other hotels who have lost power to their entire structures. They are now asking questions as to why only a few have been given the special privilege. 

Blame game on development

Development has always been an integral part of politics but it becomes a tricky affair with the change in government and Himachal is no exception. Both the BJP and the Congress had been blaming each other for delay in execution of major projects like construction of 69 odd National Highways, setting up of AIIMS and Kangra Central University, when the Congress was in power in the state and the NDA at the Centre as all the major projects were hanging fire.

The situation changed with the change in government in the state and the BJP government is at the receiving end as it cannot blame its own government at the Centre for the delay and is under pressure to deliver as Lok Sabha polls are nearing. “We are hoping that all these projects would be completed before the Lok Sabha polls and the BJP would be in the driving seat with plethora of achievements to win the polls”, taunted a senior Congress leader.