Himachal Confidential: Icing on the cake

For politicians,loyal bureaucrats are always in demand. The only difference in Himachal is that the BJP makes use of them when in power and the Congress when in Opposition. Having served the state as chief minister for five tenures,Union Minister Virbhadra Singh knows bureaucrats better than most. Thus,he always has a team of dedicated babus — retired and serving — always ready to offer him voluntarily service as backroom boys. With many of them having grown — in age and career-wise — literally in front of his eyes,they enjoy a special place in Virbhadra’s list of loyalists. So it should be of no surprise that former bureaucrats are doing kar sewa (voluntary service) to ensure that the Union Minister’s June 23 bash is politically meaningful. Raja Sahib’s dedicated green army may just be the envy of the saffron brigade.

Snakes and ladders

Himachal Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) vice-chairman and BJP spokesman Ganesh Dutt made clear his contempt for party MLA Khushi Ram Balnatah,over the latter going public with his demand for leadership change within the BJP. In fit of anger,Dutt called the MLA a ‘snake in green grass’,to drive home the point that Balnatah,whom Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had helped to become an MLA,had turned rebel. Another leader,who even lost an election as councillor,called him a “ khota sikka” (a worthless coin) while a third attacked senior party leader Shanta Kumar. Balanatah,however,does not seem to be affected by the bitter attacks even as the war of words intensifies within the BJP. “ The ladder he (Dhumal) used to go up is no longer supporting him. His downfall is predictable,” he retaliates.

Tears at home

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal showed that,despite popular perception,even politicians have emotions. With his constituency — Bamson — having been scrapped and merged with three other seats,Dhumal,who visited his village on Saturday,could not control his emotions,when he chose to pay gratitude to the constituents who had elected him with record margins in 1998. Even the next three elections from here,including a Lok Sabha bypoll significantly contributed to his political strength. “It’s fate that I will not be able to see all of you together any more. I will remain indebted to you in my life and will never let you down,” he told a mass gathering in a choked tone and unable to control tears.