Shinde’s efforts to foster unity in HP Congress suffer jolt

DHARAMSHALA: The state Congress in-charge Sushil Kumar Shinde’s efforts to foster unity among the warring factions in Himachal Pradesh suffered a setback as the detractors launched a direct attack on chief minister Virbhadra Singh at party workers’ conference at Nagrota Bagwan.

Former legislator from Jaswan-Pragpur assembly segment Nikhil Rajour led the charge against the chief minister, alleging that Virbhadra was the biggest “black-sheep” in the Congress.

Rajour alleged that Virbhadra asked him to help a rebel independent candidate against the Congress nominee in Dehra segment in 2012 polls.

The former MLA added, “If a corrupt leader is given the command in upcoming polls, Congress should forget about winning.”

Speaking at the event, Sushil Kumar Shinde said the party will contest Himachal Pradesh assembly polls under “collective leadership”. Talking to the media persons , he ruled out any change in the Congress legislative party.

BALI RAKES UP

OLD ISSUES

Transport minister GS Bali, who showed his strength with hundreds of supporters rallying behind him, raked up an old incident of a ‘dance party’ organised on his birthday, which ultimately led to his resignation in 2007. He said it was a conspiracy hatched by his detractors.

Meanwhile, addressing the gathering, co-incharge of party affairs in Himachal Ranjeet Ranjan said she could smell a sense of ‘I’ in Congress leaders in the state. “There should be a sense of we. An individual does not make a party,” said Ranjan.

BALI TO PLAY CRUCIAL ROLE IN FUTURE

HPCC chief Sukhvinder Sukhu asserted that Bali has an important role to play in future politics.

“He (Bali) has emerged as a mass leader and will shape the future politics of Himachal,” said Sukhu.