‘Himachalis are honest, tough… patriotism runs in people's veins'

Shimla is bitingly cold, but Jai Ram Thakur, 55, exudes the sort of personal warmth that defines a quintessential organisational man. Pitchforked to the chief minister’s chair in Himachal Pradesh after the BJP’s chosen CM-candidate lost the elections, Thakur has been at the helm and consequent limelight for little over two years. Over steaming hot coffee, he spoke to Editor-in-Chief Ruben Banerjee about his achievements, disappointments and all that he wishes to achieve in the remaining three years of his term.

- Ruben Banerjee

You have been a longtime legislator, but not many expected you to be the CM. Are you surprised with your sudden leap to prominence?

Not really, because I have been working in the party organisation for long. Also, (then) party president Amit Shahji had during the election campaign indicated that I would be given a bigger role. We had a chief ministerial candidate, but when he lost, I was chosen. There was no surprise in that.

You have completed two years as CM. What have been your major achievements?

The biggest achievement, I believe, is the manner in which we have gained acceptance among common people and the space we have carved for ourselves in the hearts of poor people in villages. Our biggest scheme has been Jan Manch, an initiative under which the administration reaches out to far-flung areas. Villages are provided microphones and they air their grievances in the presence of officials. Addressing complaints has been a major focus for us.

From pensions to providing gas connections, we have achieved a lot. For that matter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Ujjwala Yojana has been a 100 per cent success in Himachal. There is not a single household left that has not got a cooking gas connection. For health, we have initiated our own state health scheme to complement Ayushman Bharat.

What have been your disappointments in these two years?