Virbhadra meets Sonia, wants Sukhu removed
GAYA : Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday met sulking Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh, who has threatened not to contest the state assembly elections to be held later this year. The longest serving four-time chief minister of the hill state called on Sonia along with her political secretary Ahmed Patel, party sources said. Singh, according to them, wants the state Congress chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu removed.
SHIMLA:Himachal chief minister (CM) Virbhadra Singh, adamant on demand to remove state president Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu met All India Congress Committee (AICC) chief Sonia Gandhi on Thursday in New Delhi, even as party high command is working on a formulae to ebb factionalism in poll-bound state.
Virbhadra was camping in Delhi for two days and came to Chandigarh on Thursday after meeting Gandhi for around 25 minutes and her political advisor and Rajya Sabha member Ahmed Patel.
The CM insisted from the high command to give him a “free hand” in ticket distribution for the elections.
Virbhadra had recently sent party high command in a tizzy as he expressed his reluctance to lead the party in the elections. During Congress legislature party meeting, he announced his decision to stay away from the polls saying that with the functioning of Sukhu, it was difficult for him to lead the party in present circumstances.
“I do not wish to be belittled any more within the party as everyone seems to be going his own way,” the chief minister had said at a Congress legislative party meeting here on August 25.
“Whatever I am today is because of the party, which has given me everything. I wish to retire from politics gracefully.”
Virbhadra had also conveyed his displeasure to Ahmed Patel in Delhi on Wednesday. However, Patel reportedly pacified him Virbhadra had also shot off a letter to the party high command explaining reasons for his reluctance to lead the party.
Six-time chief minister Virbhadra wants lion’s share in ticket distribution besides assurance on ticket for his son Vikramaditya Singh, who is the state youth Congress president.
Virbhadra’s loyalists also are wary of party’s stance on ‘One family, One ticket’ that it adopted in Punjab during ticket distribution.
PARTY LIKELY TO FORM WORKING PRESIDENTS
Reportedly, Sonia placated Virbhadra, who is learnt to have agreed to soften his posturing.
Party sources told Hindustan Times that the party “partially” agreed to the CM’s demand to replace Sukhu. It is learnt that although it is unlikely to replace Sukhu ahead of the elections as it would send wrong signals, the party is working on an idea to appoint working presidents on the analogy of Karnataka and Gujarat.
Earlier, Virbhadra had forwarded the names of urban development minster Sudhir Sharma, excise minister Parkash Chaudhary and state cooperative bank chairman Harsh Mahajan for the working president posts.
On the other hand, Sukhu has asked the district presidents to submit their report on the perspective candidates.
Meanwhile, ahead of the Virbhadra’s visit to Delhi, senior cabinet minister Vidya Stokes had urged the party high command to give a “free hand” to Virbhadra Singh in the coming assembly elections since “people have more faith in a strong regional leadership”.
“He is the only capable leader to win the elections for the Congress and there is no substitute to Virbhadra Singh in Himachal Pradesh,” she said in a statement here.