The Newz Radar
As Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections near, a large number of government employees have been taking voluntary retirement from service to take the poll plunge.
Dr Sanjeev Sharma, posted as a radiologist at the Dr RK Government Medical College (RKGMC) at Hamirpur, has applied for voluntary retirement. He is said to be eyeing the BJP ticket from Hamirpur assembly constituency.
In his three-month notice served on the RKGMC principal on September 19, Dr Sharma sought voluntary retirement citing domestic circumstances and personal obligations.
Last week, Dr Pushpendra Verma also gave a three-month notice to the health department seeking voluntary retirement. Son of former Industry Minister and senior Congress leader Ranjit Singh Verma, Dr Pushpendra is also learnt to be looking to test the political waters.
A few other doctors too put in their papers over the past weeks due to the same reason. Dr Janak Raj, neurosurgery professor and Senior Medical Superintendent at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Shimla, too resigned from government service on August 16. Seen close to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, he is learnt to be eyeing the BJP ticket from his native place Bharmour in Chamba district.
Dr Lokinder Sharma, an orthopaedic surgeon who was earlier posted at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital in Shimla, too has quit his job. Having unsuccessfully vied for the BJP ticket in 2017 from Theog seat in Shimla, he appears keen for the fight again.
The Himachal Vidhan Sabha has two ayurvedic (BAMS) doctors as MLAs and both are from the BJP: Health Minister Dr Rajiv Saizal is MLA from Kasauli while and former Speaker Dr Rajeev Bindal is Nahan legislator.
