Rift in Congress: Virbhadra meets loyalists, detractors skip party meet
DHARAMSHALA: Divide in the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee came to fore again on Saturday when former chief minister Virbhadra Singh was seen huddling with his loyalist during a party convention at Dharamshala while his detractors stayed away from the programme.
Singh’s blue-eyed boy Sudhir Sharma organised the convention to discuss strategy for 2019 Lok Sabha polls. While all the Virbhadra loyalists from Kangra and Chamba district were present in the convention, senior leader and former minister GS Bali skipped the meet.
Bali has not been in good terms with Virbhadra and his loyalist Sharma for over five years now.
When contacted, Bali said he was unwell due to spinal injury and no one invited him to the event. However, Virbhadra Singh met Bali at his residence in Kangra after the party convention at Dharamshala. Both the leaders had a discussion on emerging political scenario for over an hour. Singh also said that he has family relations with Bali and there were no grudges.
Other leaders conspicuous by their absence were Himachal Congress chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Rajya Sabha member Viplov Thakur, her brother and former legislator Nikhil Rajour and AICC secretary Asha Kumari.
A Congress spokesperson said Asha Kumari missed the convention as her flight was delayed but ducked query on other leaders skipping the event.
He, however, said that no separate invitation was given to any leader and information was given through print and electronic media. Virbhadra said that Congress’ task is to win all the four Lok Sabha seats in the state.