Himachal BJP felicitates local body representatives

Shimla, Jan 30 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister P KDhumal today said panchayati raj institutions were grass-rootunits of democracy representing the common man, and asked itsmembers to work for the success of the system and strengthenthe rural economy.

Dhumal, while honouring the newly-electedrepresentatives of PRIs and urban local bodies at a functionhere, said the BJP had won 21 Municipal Councils while sixindependent Councils were also backing the BJP.

The Chief Minister was joined by senior leader KalrajMishra, incharge of party affairs for Himachal, in honouringthe newly-elected Zila Parishad, Panchayat Samiti, MunicipalCouncils and Nagar Panchayat presidents and vice presidents atthe specially organised event.

Dhumal said the BJP had promised in its ElectionManifesto to provide 50 per cent reservation to women in thePRI elections and expressed happiness that 58 per cent ofwomen representatives had been elected.

He said the panchayat training institutes at Mashobra inShimla and Baijnath in Kangra were being strengthened bycreating quality infrastructure at a cost of Rs 12.88 crore.

Kalraj Mishra appealed to the newly-electedrepresentatives to work with dedication for the upliftment anddevelopment of the people to make optimum use of the publicmoney.