All does not seem to be well in the ruling Congress in Himachal Pradesh as Transport and Food, Civil Supplies minister GS Balli has offered to resign from the State Cabinet reportedly due to interference in his ministry by several persons.
Balli, who was demanding change of portfolio from day-one, citing nothing much to do in the current portfolios, was recently irked when he found large scale interference in his Transport ministry by a person appointed into the transport corporation by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.
Sources said that the said person, who has administrative jurisdiction over the transport corporation, recently chaired a meeting of corporation officials and sought details of transfers and posting made on the orders of Chief Minister and Balli, who is the minister of the entire transport department.
This order had not gone well with the transport minister and the move only added fuel to the mounting unhappiness in him. Balli on Wednesday surrendered his official vehicles and was found moving in his own vehicle.
“There are certain issues and I will discuss with Chief Minister and other senior party leaders on Thursday at Delhi,” said Balli when contacted on phone. He refused to say anything more. Sources said that he had gone on to tender his resignation. However officially it was not confirmed.
Congress State in-charge Chaudhary Birendra Singh said that he had no information regarding any minister of the state tendering his resignation but if any one does then it will be accepted by the CM
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh who is in Delhi alongwith Congress state president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu to finalize the candidate for the Mandi parliamentary by-election, was also unhappy with the move of his minister. Sources said that party high command was also unhappy with the move at a time when by-election notification had been already made.
A senior party leader on the condition of anonymity said that as central leadership has expressed unhappiness with timing of resignation offer of Balli, he will be visiting central leaders to explain his stand and would seek change of portfolio or independent functioning.
This is the second time in the nearly five month old State Government that the resentment has come out in the open.
Earlier a chief parliamentary secretary had offered to resign for not having any power in decision making of the departments concerned and demanding more say in policy or departmental decisions.