Samirpur, November 5
BJP stalwart, two-time former Chief Minister, three-time Member of Parliament and leader of Opposition in State Assembly, Prem Kumar Dhumal, stated in a candid conversation at Samirpur on Friday that despite his not contesting any election this time still, he is very much active in public life. He accepted the impact of the Old Pension System in this election. However, he said that if OPS is Congress party’s major poll plank, it was also responsible for abolishing the Old Pension of Employees. He said that every employee who has served for many years in the state services should be entitled to formidable pension. Giving his viewpoint, he said that it should be relooked at by whichever party which comes into power.
Responding to low-profile state election leadership in the vacuum of stalwart leadership like Virbhadra Singh, he and Shanta Kunar not being in the race, he said that new leadership should be getting a chance to showcase their worth in public life and new leadership should come up too. Kumar said that he was very active in public life, and whatever role the party has been assigned, he was doing it as one of the state’s stars campaigner, like PM Narinder Modi.
Denying the failure of party strategies and distribution of tickets he said that in every election number of party leaders become aspirants for tickets. Still, tickets can be given only after evaluating the merits and demerits. He noted that neck-to-neck contests in more than 20 seats having a margin of victory or loss less than 2000 might benefit the ruling party.
He said that he didn’t think that there was an anti-government mood at all. He said that ticket was not denied to him in this election, but he urged the party president and opted out of the contest. The party was facing a multi-corner competition from its rebel. Dhumal said that before allotting tickets, things were decided by the high command and his opinion was not sought.
Talking about rebels, he added that when people know that a party is coming to power, in every Constituency, 50 to 60 aspirants want to fight elections. Still, all cannot be given tickets, and whatever method the party adopts is suitable.
He said that not being in the race for CM this time was fully satisfied with the role played in the past as MP, two-time CM and two-time leader of Opposition.
He said that people benefitted from state government policies. Water, Electricity was provided, free old age pension was given to all people above 60 yrs, and Education, Health facilities also, but the masses always wanted more.
He said that self employment, Agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry and connectivity should be given thrust. Efforts should be made to increase visitor footfall to boost up tourism sector, this increases the chances of more investment, which could increase employment avenues for the youth.
Dhumal said that two years of this government got wasted in Corona pandemic, but one thing should be added to their achievement I.e free vaccination and the government distributing free rations. He said the performance of this government is good, but people always aspire for more development. If we build Kaccha road, people tend to demand Pacca road, and there are no ends to development. He said that the state benefitted from the policy of the Narendra Modi government as the parliamentary constituency Hamirpur Parliamentary got Vande Bharat train beside AIIMS and big schemes like free LPG connection under Swajla Yojana, free vaccination of first, second and booster doses to people was given to the people. He said that rail and road connectivity was being expanded in the state.
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