Thakur makes last-ditch effort to drum up support

Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, October 19

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, in the last leg of campaigning, urged the people of Dharamsala to vote for the ruling party.

At a public meeting in Bhagsunag today, he said the development of Dharamsala was possible only if the people chose a BJP candidate.

“Now, the question is if the people want to be with the ruling party at the Centre and the state,” he said.

“How will the Congress work for Dharamsala when it does not have its government at the Centre and the state,” the Chief Minister asked.

“The country is fortunate enough to have a leader like PM Narendra Modi and people of Dharamsala should only vote for the BJP. Only a leader like him can take decisions like repealing of Article 370,” he said.

Countering the Congress allegation that nothing had been done in the state in the last two years, the Chief Minister said the present government had launched various schemes for the people of the state. The age for social security pension was reduced from 80 to 70 years. This had benefited thousands of senior citizens in the state. Over 1 lakh gas connections had been given under the Ujjwala Yojana and the Grahani Suvidha Yojana of the state government. Then there was Jan Manch programme, where grievances of people were addressed, the Chief Minister stated. The Sahara Yojana was started for providing better healthcare to the poor.

BJP MP Kishan Kapoor, who was earlier an MLA and minister from Dharamsala, had worked hard for the development of the area. He, however, could not campaign for the bypoll due to ill-health. The CM later held a public meeting at the Kotwali market, where he sought support for young candidate Vishal Nehria. He said during the last parliamentary elections, the BJP had got the highest number of votes in Kangra.

Work for party, Sudhir tells Cong workers

Former minister Sudhir Sharma, who had organised a meeting of party workers at his residence, urged his supporters to work for the Congress. Sharma did not take the name of the candidate, saying some people within and outside the party were trying to spread rumours about him. Voters would teach them a lesson, he said.