Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi amid reports of a cabinet expansion in the hill state.
In a statement, an official spokesperson said Thakur thanked the PM for visiting the state to inaugurate the Himachal Rising Global Investors' Meet earlier this month. There was no mention about the the cabinet expansion.
The spokesperson said the CM discussed various Union government-aided projects and requested for their speedy approval and support to the state government. The prime minister assured of all possible support to the state, he added.
Thakur had indicated last month that Himachal Pradesh cabinet would be expanded anytime after results of the assembly bypolls were declared on October 24. BJP had won both the seats despite party rebels contesting.
Presently, there are two vacant ministerial berths, which have been lying vacant for the past several months. Anil Sharma, who was the power minister in the state government, had to resign after his son contested on the Congress ticket from the Mandi Lok Sabha seat this year. Anil had refused to campaign for the BJP candidate from Mandi, Ram Swaroop Sharma.
The second vacancy is due to Kishan Kapoor, the Dharamshala MLA and civil supplies minister in the state government, resigning after he was elected to the Lok Sabha in May from Kangra.
MEETS SITHARAMAN
During his Delhi visit, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday called on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and requested for support and speedy clearances for externally aided projects submitted to the Centre. During the meeting, discussions were held regarding Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala Ropeways, Overhead Mass Rapid Transport System projects submitted to the Centre and technical assistance for Adaptive Forest Management for Water Security to Safeguard Livelihood project. The Union Minister heard the demands patiently and assured of all possible assistance from the Ministry. Union Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs Anurag Thakur also joined the discussions.
CM URGES RAILWAY MINISTER TO EXPEDITE WORK ON CHANDIGARH-BADDI RAIL LINE
Thakur also met Union Railway Minister Piyush Goel at New Delhi and urged him for expediting the work on Chandigarh-Baddi rail line keeping in view the importance of transportation in the industrial belt. He said that this will also help in attracting more investors to the state. He requested for construction of Una-Hamirpur rail link on hundred percent funding by the government of India and added that the matter has already been taken up with the Centre. He said that connectivity is a major issue in the state and roads were the only mode of transport therefore expansion of rail network is very much required in the state to keep pace with fast progress of the state. The Union Minister promised to provide all possible assistance. He assured to look into reduction in freight after studying the matter.