As it is the trend of the hill state, Himachal Pradesh, to chose a government alternatively every five years, giving chance to both BJP and Congress, and so did it happen in these assembly elections also. The verdict of the assembly polls announced on 18 Dec declared BJP as the winning party both in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.
While in Himachal, BJP won a considerable number of seats smoothly, in Gujarat though it managed to nail the victory but suffered a decline in its tally compared to the 2012 stats. While BJP won in Himachal, but Prem Kumar Dhumal, who was the probable Candidate for the post of Chief Minister during the campaignings, lost from Sujanpur. Following the defeat of Dhumal, began the race for the next probable candidates for the topmost post in the hill state. Quite a few names were short listed, and even Dhumal was still trying to be in the race, but eventually, on Sunday, Jairam Thakur was chosen by the BJP central leadership to be the next Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.
The designate candidate, Jairam Thakur will take the oath as the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh on 27 Dec. After the announcement of his name as the next CM, Thakur in his statement to the press on Monday said that all the decision taken by the outgoing Congress government will be reviewed once he assumes office. “We will review all the decisions taken by the Congress government, three months before imposition of the code of conduct, and ascertain if they were prudent and taken in a transparent manner,” he said.
Responding to a query regarding what would be the priorities of the BJP government henceforth, Jai Ram Thakur said that, his government will be focusing on the law and order situations in the state. He also added that the critical financial condition and the negligence of the implementation of the schemes of the Central government will also be taken up as a priority. “Deteriorating law and order, the critical financial health of the government and tardy implementation of centrally sponsored schemes are areas of grave concern and the government would focus on these,” he said.
During his conversation with the press, he also added that restoring the faith of the people in the police will be a major challenge for his government. The to be Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister also said that “pruning wasteful expenditure and aggressively implementing centrally sponsored schemes to provide maximum benefits to the people, will improve the critical financial condition of the state, and my government will work to achieve these goals.”
Jairam Thakur also informed that there will be a change in government officials soon after the oath taking ceremony on 27 Dec. He said that there will be no place for tired and retired officials in the government. He also added that regarding the induction of ministers, the process was on in consultation with the party high command and they will be taking the final call. “The cabinet would be a mix of experience and young talent,” he said.
Jairam Thakur told the press reporters that his government ould also take initiatives to promote tourism in Himachal Pradesh.