Month later, CPS Dharmani reluctant to attend office

Ghumarwin legislator Rajesh Dharmani had created a furore in the ruling Congress government a month ago by resigning from the post of chief parliamentary secretary and later rescinding his decision. But even as he took his decision back, he is reluctant to attend his office.

Ghumarwin legislator Rajesh Dharmani had created a furore in the ruling Congress government a month ago by resigning from the post of chief parliamentary secretary and later rescinding his decision. But even as he took his decision back, he is reluctant to attend his office.

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The three-time legislator, Dharmani had expressed dissatisfaction over the working of the office of the chief parliamentary secretary and on October 3, he resigned from the post, but later, after industries minister Mukesh Agnihotri and transport minister GS Bali intervened, he agreed to take back his resignation. But before that he kept few conditions before the chief minister.

A month has passed and Dharmani is still unwilling to attend the office at the HP secretariat.
Dharmani, who was earlier eyeing ministerial berth, was sworn in as the CPS with Renuka legislator Vinay Kumar, Jawali legislator Neeraj Bharati and is attached to the forest department.

“There is no work in the office so what is the fun in attending the office?” Dharmani, who is touring his constituency, Ghumarwin, told HT over phone.

“I had surrendered the official vehicle soon after I resigned. It is better to function like a legislator,” he said.

“When we are not justifying our office work, hence there is no point in enjoying the perks,” he said. “Being attached to the forest department we are not even invited for department meetings,” Dharmani complained.

“Whatever work we have to perform as a parliamentary secretary, I can do it from my own constituency,” he said.

Dharmani, who earlier was a close confidante of IPH minister Vidya Stokes and party chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of late has developed proximity with transport minister GS Bali now.

Prior to Dharmani, Gagret legislator Rakesh Kalia had quit office of chief parliamentary secretary owing to Congress' one man one post tradition. Recently, the government had appointed senior-most legislator Mansa Ram as the chief parliamentary secretary.

With Mansa Ram's appointment, the total number of CPS has now gone up to nine in state.

Initially, there were six CPS, including Rampur legislator Nand Lal, Jubbal and Kotkhai legislator Rohit Thakur, Sundernagar legislator Sohan Lal Thakur, Barsar legislator Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Sulah legislator Jagjivan Pal and Gagret legislator Rakesh Kalia.