MP who ‘missed’ all the action

PROMISES GALORE: Promised to give a boost to the infrastructure development projects,which had been hanging fire under the BJP regime in the state,construction of Rohtang tunnel,a strategic all-weather road on the Manali-Leh highway,opening a medical college,taking up the issue of broad-gauging the Pathankot-Jogindernagar railway,constructing a new terminal and expansion of Bhuntar airport,creating more employment avenues and opening her office in Mandi to address to the grievances of the people..

WHAT SHE DELIVERED: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) received the environmental clearance for the multi-crore tunnel project and funds were released by the Centre.The tunnel,expected to cost Rs 1,360 crore,will be completed by 2014,the Larji project was commissioned,though its cost exceeded Rs 1,300 crore which was more than double from the estimated cost,the new terminal at the Bhuntar airport was inaugurated last year,the proposal for the medical college failed to take off because of early Assembly elections in the state,but the Centre sanctioned Rs 1,000 crore for a ESI medical college and hospital in Mandi and laid its foundation along with one IIT. However,the Dhumal government has claimed credit for both projects.

WHERE SHE FAILED: The work on the Rohtang tunnel is moving at snails pace,there has been no headway in the expansion plans of the Bhuntar airport,she did not open her office in Mandi as promised,she did not visit the historic Malana village when it was reduced to ashes last winter,the way she has put the MPLAD funds to use have not been satisfactory,for which she blames the local administration.

Attendance in Lok Sabha: Her attendance was 86 per cent. She participated in 49 debates and raised 115 questions in Parliament. She was a member of some Indian Parliamentary delegations.

Number of questions asked or issues taken up: She claims to have raised the issue of extending industrial package up to 2013 and expansion of railway network in the state,including Bhanupalli-Bilaspur and Baddi-Chandigarh railway line.

Opinion: Pratibha Singh relied more on the state government and Virbhadra Singh for fulfilling her promises related to development works such as roads or irrigation scheme. Barring few areas,she had no direct interaction with the masses. Her visits to her constituency declined after Congress was voted out of power. “She did not have a strong footing in the state. That is why she is not contesting this time. In fact she was unwilling to contest much before the elections were announced,” said Diljit Thakur,a fruit grower in Kullu.

Votes secured by top two candidates in 2004
Pratibha Singh (Cong): 3.58 lakh
Maheshwar Singh (BJP): 2.91 lakh
Total votes Polled: 6.69 lakh