Shimla: As expected the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has unfolded a political narrative in Himachal Pradesh ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
While the Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, exhibited a cold response to the Yatra, Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla emerged as a prominent advocate, showering praises on the initiative.
Despite the apparent indifference from the Congress-led state government, Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla emphasized the Yatra's significance, stressing its nationwide reach and objective of ensuring the saturation of key government schemes.
The Yatra, which covered 1.25 lakh Gram Panchayats and engaged over five crore people across the country, aimed to establish a direct connection between Prime Minister Modi and the beneficiaries.
The Yatra has taken political colour wherewhere it is going with BJP workers participating in it while Congress and government machineries remaining inactive.
Governor Shukla has become a central figure of the yatra who is trying to be "wiser politician" than the mainstream BJP and Congress brands.
He highlighted the Yatra's focus on key areas such as sanitation, financial services, electricity, LPG connections, housing, food security, health care, and clean water.
He underscored the inclusion of the tribal districts in the initial phases.
The political undercurrents became apparent as Governor Shukla stepped into the spotlight, lauding the Yatra's success and commitment from Prime Minister Modi.
The Governor noted that the event garnered significant attention since its inauguration, portraying Modi's dedication to understanding the experiences of beneficiaries and ensuring the success of union government initiatives.
He said Yatra's extensive coverage included 3799 places in Himachal Pradesh, with 2966 Gram Panchayats in 85 blocks covered so far.
Notably, the tribal districts of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur, along with the Pangi area of Chamba district, were included in the first phase.
Just to give it an "apolitical" touch or a "balancing push" , Governor Shukla highlighted the incorporation of two major schemes of the State Government, namely Mukhyamantri Himcare Swasthya Yojana, launched by the previous JaiRam Thakur government and Mukhyamantri Sukh Ashraya Yojana launcged by the Sukhu government, in the Yatra campaign.
The event, designed to amplify the success of union government flagship schemes, has become a focal point where political dynamics intersect with development initiatives.
As the Yatra progresses, the role of Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla as a promoter of the initiative underscores how politics intertwines with every facet of government schemes and policies, shaping the narrative around the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Himachal Pradesh.
