Dharam Prakash Gupta
Though the election for Himachal Pradesh Assembly is due in November -2027 but churning has begun in the ruling party to revive the legacy of six time former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh by people once close to him to regain a niche in the Congress politics of the state .
The show of strength by the Virbahdra Singh family at Sarahan two days ago during the unveiling of a statue of the former CM, in which several senior Congress leaders participated, was a recent instance.
Several leaders close to Virbhadra Singh, who enjoyed power for long during his unbridled control on power politics for long , were feeling sidelined with the shift of power to present Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was always kept on the sidelines by Virbhadra Singh as he was considered to be aligned with the leaders of the ‘other group’ within the Congress during Virbhadra Singh’s regime.
After coming to power CM Sukhu propped his own men in the Congress government by giving them prized posts while several senior leaders were sidelined.
Pratibha Singh, wife of Virbhadra Singh and his son, PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh have been raising issue of giving proper honour to six times CM and the statue of Virbhadra Singh was installed on the Ridge Shimla sometime back on the persistent persuasion of his family.
Recently, Pratibha Singh – former HPCC President had also raised issue of not displaying Virbhadra Singh’s photo during recent tour of CM Sukhu to Rohru and Rampur Assembly constituencies , which were considered pocket -borough of Virbharda Singh both being part of erstwhile estate of Bushehr , which his family ruled . He also represented Rohru constituency in the HP Assembly for a long time.
There were rumors of forming a political party using his name; however Pratibha Singh wrote a letter to the Election Commission of India not to register any party using Virbahdra Singh’s name or using symbols associated with their family.
Presence of Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri, Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Chairman of Tourism Corporation Raghuvir Bali, senior Congress leader’s former ministers Kaul Singh Thakur, Ram Lal Thakur and former CPS Neeraj Bharti- considered close to Virbhadra Singh has given credence to talks of regrouping within the Congress, before the next Assembly election in the state.
However, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has refuted the presence of any groups in the Congress. PWD Minister Vikrmaditya Singh has denied any factionalism in the Congresss.
