At IOC event, Cong, BJP men slug it out

It was perhaps for the first time that people of Himachal saw a live face-off between leaders of BJP and Congress. The occasion was the foundation stone-laying ceremony of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) terminal in Una district. Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan, chief minister Virbhadra Singh and opposition leaders were present. As Congress Transport minister GS Bali has a penchant for publicity. Just when the memories of an uproar he created after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s Dharamshala rally started to fade away, he has come up with another trick to stay in the limelight. The whole discussion is revolving around a slogan – Kaam Kiya Hai Kam Karenge, Jhuthe Wade Nahi Karenge – on the back of the new digital ration cards launched by Bali, who also holds the food and civil supply portfolio. His opponents have termed the use of slogan that was once the tagline Union health minister Jagat Parkash Nadda seen as the chief ministerial candidate by a section of BJP leaders in Himachal Pradesh, is sparing no effort to stay in the limelight as campaigning for the municipal corporation polls in Shimla gains momentum. Nadda first claimed at party’s convention that its prestige was a stake in the civic body elections. He then walked the streets of the state capital to campaign for BJPbacked candidates. The keen interest taken by the central minister has left everyone wondering about former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal’s role in the state. The senior party leader has kept a rather low profile. Is a sign of things to come?