Removal of officer, admission of guilt, says Dhumal

Shimla, Jun 11 (UNI) Continuing to mount pressure on the state Congress government on the issue of corruption, former Himachal Pradesh chief minister P K Dhumal today said replacement of his secretary cum principal secretary with another officer was an admission of the guilt.

''Removal of one of his most trusted officers with another in a major administrative reshuffle recently, is like admitting the corruption charges,'' he said at a press conference here.

Replying to a question, Mr Dhumal said there was a possibility of snap assembly polls anytime now following dissensions within the Congress party.

"Pressure is mounting within the party and from outside for the state assembly elections," said the BJP leader who was recently elected to Lok Sabha from the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency after defeating Congress' candidate and state forest minister Ram Lal Thakur.

"Besides, if the government has to take advantage in the three tribal assembly seats of the state, polls will have to be advanced, since assembly elections will not be held there in February when extreme cold conditions prevail there," said Mr Dhumal.

The BJP leader said the issue was also being discussed among the senior party leaders and ministers.

Replying to another question, whether his election to the Lok Sabha would rule him out from the post of chief ministership after February 2008 elections, he said it was for the party high command and the people of the state to decide.

MORE UNI