CHANDIGARH: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said here on Monday that Haryana continues to rank at the top in the country, after small State of Goa, with highest per capita income of Rs.56280 at current prices.

While adderesing a press conference here Monday, Chief Minister said that Haryana has registered an increase of 14.76 per cent in per capita income during last three years whereas Goa has achieved this increase at a rate of six per cent during the same period.
   
In reply to a question Hooda said that the State Cabinet would be expanded after the bye elections to three assembly constituencies in the State.

He denied reports appearing in a section of the press that the State Government has a proposal to hire a private agency to assess the functioning of Ministers in the State. Hooda made it clear that the State Government did not have any such plan as he himself is competent enough to judge the working of Ministers.

When asked that when would the candidates of the Congress Party would be nominated for the bye election, Hooda said that the process for nomination of candidates would commence from April 28 and candidates would be nominated by the Congress High Command. 

Responding to when would he forward the panel of his choice of candidates to the Congress High Command, Hooda said that he would carry the panel along while visiting the High Command for discussion on the issue.

In reply to the prospects of the Congress candidates in the ensuing bye elections, Hooda  expressed the confidence that all the three seats would be won by Congress Party.

He said that this success of the Congress candidates would be as a result of  the development which the State has made during last three years, policies of the Congress Party and the State Government. Haryana  has the highest per capita income and highest per capita investment in the country. The plan budget of the State has also been increased by three times.
   
When asked that with which party the candidates of the Congress Party would compete in the ensuing bye election, Hooda said that he did not see any contest, but added that the bye election would decide the ranking of those candidates who would be at number two and three.

When his attention was drawn towards the defectors of the Party, he said that these days the people were awakened and were able to take right decision.

In reply to a question on the issue of inflation,Hooda said that effective steps were being taken to check inflation and it has now shown a downward trend during last two three days.

On the issue of damage caused to crops by rains and hailstorm in some parts of the State recently, Hooda said that any decision regarding compensation to farmers  would be taken after getting report of Girdawri. When asked about  the report of the committee headed by Agriculture Minister, H.S. Chatha for separate Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee in Haryana, Hooda said that he was yet to receive the report from the commiittee.

In reply to another question, he said that members of Improvement Trusts and Market Committees could not be appointed due to the prevailing model code of conduct in view of bye elections.