Sukhu, cabinet colleagues meet Kharge, Rahul over RDG, other issues

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and his cabinet colleagues met All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Friday to deliberate on key political and economic issues concerning the state.The discussion focused on the withdrawal of the revenue deficit grant (RDG) following recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission, a move that would significantly impact the hill state's finances.Leaders also examined the implications of the proposed free trade agreement with the United States, particularly its potential effect on Himachal Pradesh's apple industry, valued at nearly Rs 4,500 crore.Organisational matters were also high on the agenda. The leadership reviewed plans to strengthen the Congress party structure down to the block level and deliberated on selecting the party's candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election scheduled for March 16.The long-pending cabinet expansion, with one berth currently vacant, was also discussed. Also, the Congress govt is yet to appoint a deputy speaker in the vidhan sabha after Shri Renukaji MLA Vinay Kumar was appointed as state Congress president.Senior party leaders, including Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal, Rajya Sabha member and the party's Himachal Pradesh in-charge Rajani Patil, state Congress president Vinay Kumar, and former Rajya Sabha member from the hill state Anand Sharma, were present in the meeting.MSID:: 128613467 413 |