Nadda mum on his role in Himachal politics
SHIMLA: Upbeat after his party's resounding victory in the recently concluded assembly elections, Union health minister and Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) national general secretary Jagat Prakash Nadda on Sunday predicted a “change” in Congress-ruled Himachal but kept his cards close to chest about his return to state politics.
“People in Himachal are looking for change. They want development and want to get rid of corruption,” Nadda told party workers and leaders at the government-run Hotel Peterhoff. Nadda, who was election in-charge for assembly polls in Uttrakhand, visited the state for the first time after elections in five states and was accorded a welcome by Shimla’s local legislator Suresh Bhardwaj.
"Poll results make it clear that the BJP government will provide corruption-free governments in all states now," he said while attacking the state government led by chief minister Virbhadra Singh, describing it as "corrupt" regime. "Winds of change have begun to blow in Himachal, and after poll results, the mood is in BJP’s favour," said Nadda describing people's verdict in Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Uttarakhand as a victory of policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led-National Democratic Alliance(NDA) government.
He gave a clarion call to party workers to disseminate the policies of the Modi government. While talking to select mediapersons on the sidelines of the function, Nadda parried queries about his return to state politics. “Let me look after Delhi for now,” he said.
However, there are speculations in political circles that the BJP has planned a bigger role for Nadda in Himachal ahead of assembly elections. Nadda, 56, is close to Rashtriya Sweyam Sewak Sangh leadership and is known in BJP for his apt political management. Nadda also played a crucial role, in the party’s victory in Uttarakhand. Nadda moved to central politics in 2010 when the then national president of the party Nitin Gadkari appointed him national general secretary. Leaders close to Nadda have revealed to Hindustan Times that he would now visit the state after every ten days. His supporters have chalked out his programs for Lahual Spiti, Kullu and Chamba.
“He would visit the state after every ten days,” said a party leader close to Nadda.
What raised eyebrows was that BJP leaders who owed allegiance to BJP’s two vanguards— former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and Shanta Kumar too flanked Nadda during the party function. Shimla legislator Suresh Bhardwaj was at the forefront while party legislators Govind Ram from Arki, Mahender Singh Thakur from Dharampur, Shimla parliamentarian Virender Kashyap were also present.
Former legislators Sandeep Bhardwaj, Khushi Ram Balnatah, Rakesh Verma, Ram Lal Markandey and Rakesh Pathania were among the prominent leaders who attended function. Former Lok Sabha member and Independent legislator from Chopal Balbir Verma who announced to part ways with the Congress also flanked Nadda. Balbir Verma would join BJP formally on March 26 at Nerwa.