Batting for internal elections in the political parties, Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Monday said elections for all posts in the parties should be held in a democratic manner.
Addressing a public meeting at Nerwa in Chopal Tehsil of Shimla, Singh said he became elected president of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee for four times and once he was nominated just two months before last elections.
“Today the true concept of democracy is diminishing. Though I would say it rather disappeared in all parties. I believe that elections to various posts, at even Block level should be in democratic manner. All the members should come elected and not by nominations,” he reiterated.
Hitting out at the sitting MlA from Chopal Balbir Verma, he said he could not digest the development of the area and betrayed the people by joining hands with the BJP.
He said the MlA lured the people for his selfish motives and now betrayed them just before the elections. He added that anyone who believed in purchasing votes could never be a true benefactor of people.
The Chief Minister said after last Assembly elections, Chopal MlA Balbir Verma came to him and urged for becoming associate member of the Congress. later, he started taking the credit of development in Chopal himself and blamed me for carrying out development only in Rampur and Rohru region.
“I believe in overall development of all regions and not play divisive politics,” said the Chief Minister, adding, “Whatever I did for the region during last five years, was for the sake of people of Chopal, and not for Balbir verma”.
Singh inaugurated Rs 4.73 crore Industrial Training Institute at Nerwa and asked to start the classes in the old existing college building. He also inspected the newly constructed College building at Nerwa which he inaugurated online few days ago.
later talking to media, the Chief Minister said Subhash Manglet would be his personal choice for contesting elections on Congress ticket from Chopal constituency.
Chairman,Agriculture Produce Marketing Board, and former MlA from the area, Manglet thanked the Chief Minister for the sops he gave for Chopal, Nerwa and Kupvi in recent Cabinet meeting. He also listed other developments of the area during last five years.
He lambasted the sitting MlA, for betraying the trust of the people and shifting loyalties. Manglet said he himself sought shelter of Virbhadra Singh and unconditionally extended support to the Congress, but he never betrayed and back-stabbed the people of the area. Balbir Verma was now boasting of managing the people of Chopal, claiming that he can mould the people within 15 days, forgetting that the people of Chopal cannot be lured by money power and will not fall prey to his deceiving tactics.
Projects worth Rs 77.74 cr in Nerwa On his visit to Nerwa, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh dedicated and laid foundation stones of projects worth Rs 78 crore
He formally dedicated the new Tehsil at Nerwa as already announced before. Singh also laid foundation stones of upgradation of several road projects which including Neri Bridge to Thundal road, Chopal to Kumbra road, Sagroti -Tikkari-Maneoty road, Kupvi-Mashot road, Throch to Madhana road and several other road stretches.
He also laid foundation stone of lift Irrigation Supply Scheme (lISS) for villages Ranjit and Dhadu for horticulture land to cost Rs 5.54 crore to irrigate catchment area of around 250 hectare with 381 beneficiaries. He inaugurated Bhalu to Dhatoli road completed with an outlay of Rs 6.56 crore and Shwala to Dakahi road completed with a cost of Rs 1.50 crore.