CHAMBA/UNA/SHIMLA: Carrying forward his “double engine development agenda for the ensuing Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has targeted the launch the Rs. 3000 crore Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna-III scheme from Chamba and Bulk Drug Pharma Park, Haroli from Una to gain political mileage against the opposition Congress.
Prime Minister would also dedicate Rs. 128 crore Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Una.
He would lay the foundation stone of the Bulk Drug Pharma Park in Haroli. Prime Minister would also flag-off the new ‘Vande Bharat Express’ from Una railway station.
Prime Minister would also lay the foundation stones of 48 MW Chanju-III hydro electric project and 30.5 MW Deothal-Chanju hydro electric project. Nearly Rs. 800 crore would be spent on the construction of these projects.
The launch of these projects from Chamba and Una on October 13 have come as a major game changer in Chamba in Kangra Lok Sabha and Una in Hamirpur Lok Sabha seats.
Chamba and Una visits have come as the record ninth visits of Prime Minister to this tiny state of Himachal Pradesh in a short span of five years, said Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.
Thakur first inspected the preparedness for Prime Minister’s public meeting at Chaugan, the cultural epicentre of Chamba and then today in Una.
Prime Minister chose Chamba for the launch of the launch of the Rs. 3000 crore Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna-III scheme to queer the pitch for Congress in Chamba district to battle out anti-incumbency at least on four seats, which is currently with the BJP.
Congress leader from the “old Mahajan family of Congress” from Chamba, Harsh Mahajan has already joined BJP giving a jolt to Congress mainly in Chamba district.
Harsh Mahajan had worked for late Virbhadra Singh in Mandi Lok Sabha and Shimla Rural during his last term and was inactive in electoral politics.
His absence is disturbing for the Chamba Congress, but there are Congress leaders from Chamba like Asha Kumar, MLA from Dalhousie who feels “happier now over the exit of “inactive Mahajan”.
BJP is aspiring for Chamba, an aspirational district make it for the losses that the party is fear in Shimla Lok Sabha seat.
Among hill poverty and mal nutrition among women and children, the road connectivity is also one the major issues in mountainous district of Chamba.
It is due to these reasons and other consideration that Prime Minister has chosen Chamba for the launch of the Rs. 3000 crore Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna-III scheme.
On the other hand, Prime Minister chose Una to lay the foundation stone of Bulk Drug Pharma Park in Haroli, seat represented by Congress leader of the opposition Mukesh Agnihotri, who is one among many aspirants for the Chief Minister post”.
The “double engine agenda of Modi” in Una is giving sleepless night to Agnihotri as it is likely to confine him in Haroli.
Modi would dedicate the Rs. 128 crore Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) and flag-off the new ‘Vande Bharat Express’ from Una railway station, he added.
Modi had already made a dig at Congress in Bilaspur that the foundation stone of the railways was laid many years ago, but only to be dumped by Congress regime.
Jai Ram Thakur today visited the Indira Gandhi Stadium at Una to review the preparedness of the rally of the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister’s ninth visits to Himachal in the last five years only shows his bonding with people of Himachal, Jai Ram Thakur said.
He said that the Congress leaders were baffled due to these visits of the Prime Minister.
They know that Congress would be completely wiped out from the State in the coming assembly general elections, he quipped.
Prime Minister is likely to put his double engine poll agenda well pitched in building up the political momentum before Model Code of conduct comes into place, as he did it in neighboring Uttarakhand in the last assembly elections and won the state by creating history.
