KULLU, Sept 7: Nine members of Zila Parishad, Kullu, are reported to be up in arms against Diwan Singh, the chairman of ZP, and have submitted a representation to the ZP vice-chairman Sunder Singh Thakur, seeking the convening of a meeting of the ZP House, in order to bring a no-confidence motion against the chairman.Interestingly, the joint representation submitted to the vice-chairman comprised the signatures of nine members, belonging to both parties, BJP and Congress.
It is learnt that the joint representation contains the names of ZP members Daulat Singh (Congress), Chander Sen (Congress), Manta Thakur (Congress), Devki Nandan (BJP), Nupi Devi (BJP), Alam Chand (BJP), Kalpana Thakur (BJP), Dhani Ram (BJP) and Jagdish Chand (BJP). These members have reportedly expressed their dissatisfaction over the chairman's style of functioning.
In the ZP House, five members of Congress and three owing allegiance to HVC are believed to have put their signatures to press forward this demand. Sunder Singh Thakur and another member Chander Kiran Pararthi have not put their signatures in this representation. A woman member Phulan Devi, according to sources, is quite close to Diwan Singh.
As a matter of fact, Diwan Singh, originally a Congressman, had joined the HVC after the polls in the Mandi LS seat. According to reliable sources, most of the ZP members have levelled charges against the chairman, including his alleged failure in highlighting the issues for getting adequate powers for the ZP and also for his autocratic style of functioning. The political scene in the Valley is likely to take an interesting turn, if the move succeeds.
In the state, the BJP and HVC are coalition partners. And keeping this in view, the 14-member House has nine members from the BJP-HVC combine, while the Congress has five members.
Observers maintain that it will be an awkward situation if the directives of the state-level alliance are not followed. And it will an interesting turn if the state-level keeps itself aloof from the local scene.
Meanwhile, Sunder Singh Thakur, vice-chairman, said he would fix the meeting of the House after due consultations with the Executive Officer of the ZP and district administration.
He clarified that the meeting to bring a no-trust motion, on the members' representation, would be held after issuing a notice of one week or maximum of 15 days to the members, as per provisions of the Panchayati Raj.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.