In a heightened drama unfolding in the Himachal Pradesh Govenment, Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) Rajesh Dharmani on Saturday withdrew his resignation after meeting Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on assurances of greater responsibilities.
Singh on Friday had publicly said that he had accepted Dharmani’s resignation terming that a CPS can’t be given work of Cabinet Minister. Turn of event took place late in the evening after two senior Ministers got in touch with Dharmani and persuaded him to meet the CM. The meeting took place late at night. Talking on phone, Dharmani, MlA from Ghumarwin, said that he had got assurances from the CM that his grievances will be addressed and CPS will be given more responsibilities as permissible under the law.
Sources said that Virbhadra Singh was under pressure from central leadership to sort out the issue and persuade Dharmani to withdraw his resignation as he was the second CPS to resign in past three months after Rakesh Kalia quit the Government. Sources said that Singh had met central leaders who had asked to persuade Dharmani as the resignation was seen as a setback to Government. Dharmani had termed the post of CPS as a gun without a bullet and he was also perturbed by the appointment of junior MlA from his district as chairman of grievance committee the post held by senior most MlA.
“Everything was discussed and I was given assurances by the CM following which I decided to take back the resignation,” Dharmani told The Pioneer. He added that CPS post should not be just a customary post and they should be entrusted with more responsibilities which could help them to prove their usefulness. Sources in the Government said that decision was taken to involve the CPS in the department meetings of the departments they hold, board meetings and their work to be cleared on priority level.