Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday accused Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of misleading Congress legislators by promising them ministerial berths while allegedly failing to submit a formal proposal for expansion of the state Cabinet.
Thakur’s remarks came a day after Himachal Pradesh Congress in-charge Rajni Patil said that CM Sukhu had not yet submitted any proposal regarding Cabinet expansion. She said the Congress would take further action after receiving a formal proposal from the Chief Minister.
Thakur Questions Delay In Cabinet Expansion
Thakur said Sukhu had repeatedly claimed in the Assembly and at public meetings that a legislator would be inducted into the Cabinet, but nearly a year had passed without the announcement being implemented.
“The Chief Minister keeps making claims about making his MLAs Ministers, but becomes silent when it comes to implementing these promises before his party high command,” the former Chief Minister said in a statement.
He alleged that Sukhu was keeping legislators aligned with him by offering them the prospect of ministerial positions and was attempting to strengthen his own faction.
“Now even the Congress in-charge has exposed the Chief Minister’s style of functioning. She (Rajni Patil) is telling the media that no proposal for Cabinet expansion has been received from Himachal Pradesh,” Thakur said.
Cabinet Expansion Remains Under Discussion
Referring to the legislator whom Sukhu had allegedly promised to induct into the state Cabinet, Thakur said the MLA had frequently accompanied the Chief Minister at his programmes and during visits outside the state.
He questioned when the Chief Minister would submit the proposal, pointing out that the Congress government’s four-year tenure would be completed in December.
The remarks came amid renewed speculation over a Cabinet expansion. While reports earlier this month had suggested that an expansion or reshuffle could take place by the end of September, Rajni Patil said on Saturday that no formal proposal had yet been received. Sukhu, meanwhile, has said the Cabinet expansion would take place before the government completes four years in office.
Thakur Attends ‘Mann Ki Baat’ Programme
Thakur also attended a public listening programme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 138th episode of Mann Ki Baat in Shimla’s Ward 12, along with BJP workers, office-bearers and local residents.
He described Mann Ki Baat as a platform highlighting the achievements, innovations and inspirational work of ordinary citizens.