Dharamshala: Forest Minister Rakesh Pathania said that BJP has lost the in recent by-elections in Himachal due to overconfidence. “But now we have started preparing ourselves to be victorious in the coming 2022 general elections in the state,” he said.
Talking to the media here the minister said that taking a lesson from the defeat in these by-elections, BJP is now ahead in preparation for 2022 elections. He said that senior party leaders JP Nadda, Shanta Kumar, Prem Kumar Dhumal and other senior leaders are handling the party untidily. Discussion for the coming general elections will also be held in the State BJP Working Committee meeting to be held in Shimla from 24th of Nov, where other reasons for the defeat in the by-election shall also be discussed.
Refuting rumours about any change in leadership or any cabinet reshuffle in Himachal, he said that the upcoming assembly elections would be fought under the leadership of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.
Pathania said that he did discuss with the officials today regarding the early construction of the Central University campus at Jadrangal in Dharamshala and the expansion of the Dharamshala airport.
“At Jadrangal, 25 hectares of land is already in the name of Central University and construction work will start simultaneously in Jadrangal in Dharamsala and Dehra campuses. As far as the matter about the expansion of Kangra airport is concerned, the government is serious about it. The airport will soon be expanded. The state government is going to take up the matter of this airport with the Center in the month of December,” said the Minister.
He said that he is also aware about the vacancies of many posts in the Municipal Corporation in Dharamsala and the matter will be taken up with the government so that people do not face any kind of trouble for their work.
Pathania said that ‘Sada Bahar’ mango saplings would soon be distributed to the gardeners in Kangra, Hamirpur, Una and Bilaspur districts. He said that the framework is being completed by the department regarding this scheme and within the coming two months the Chief Minister will launch the scheme. He added that this evergreen mango will bear fruit twice a year. He said that due to the planting of these mango saplings, more employment opportunities would be provided to the youth including farmers and gardeners. This mango plant can be planted in less land or people can also plant it in their kitchen garden pots. Similarly, a plan is also being prepared for diversification of production of guava and orange.
Arvind Sharma is an award winning bi-lingual journalist with more than 20 years of experience.
He has worked with Divya Himachal, Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhasker, Vir Partap, Ajit and PTI.
In 2010, he was conferred the Himachal Kesri journalism award. He reports on the Tibetan Government in Exile, politics, sports, tourism and other topics. He lives in Dharamshala.
