In a time when Himachal elections are around the corner, the Aam Aadmi Party’s announcement of restoring the old pension scheme (OPS) in Punjab has blown out the politics in Himachal. Congress has too made the same promise of restoring OPS if comes into power, whereas the BJP in Himachal is trying to convey to the government employees what is economically feasible. This OPS bet brought a fresh twist in Himachal Assembly elections.
Though it is pertinent to mention here that AAP Government in Punjab just had ‘announced’ the restoration of OPS and yet there is NO ‘official notification’ released so far. Yet, as per the experts, this mere announcement could prove fatal to other parties in Himachal Pradesh.
Congress has already announced the implementation of the old pension scheme in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. In Himachal too, Congress has placed OPS at number one in 10 election guarantees. On the other hand, in the party’s pledge rally in Solan, Priyanka Gandhi announced the restoration of OPS in the very first cabinet meeting as soon as the government is formed in the state. The New Pension Scheme Karamchari Mahasangh (NPSKM), which has been holding a relay hunger strike in Shimla, plans to intensify its agitation for the restoration of the OPS in Himachal Pradesh. Following these protests, the state government set up a committee headed by then chief secretary Ram Subagh Singh to re-store OPS.
In many states, government employees coming under the New Pension Scheme are on the streets. The employees have gone on hunger strike somewhere and have also gheraoed the assembly. In such a situation, will the restoration of Aam Aadmi Party’s OPS in Punjab prove to be a master card in Himachal? Or Congress will be able to beat AAP and get government employees in its side. Both the political parties have now started capitalizing on this issue.
