Virbhadra, Stokes at amiable best as Cong deals with chaos

SHIMLA: Amid uncertainty and factional feud that has made the Congress wary in Himachal Pradesh, chief minister Virbhadra Singh and irrigation and public health minister Vidya Stokes displayed unusual ‘bonhomie’ at his official residence, Oakover, on Sunday.

The meeting between the octogenarians followed Singh’s announcement two days ago that he would contest elections from Theog — 89-year-old Stokes’ bastion from where she contested 10 elections and won eight.

Stokes and Singh sat in the lawns of Oak Over for long, sharing some light moments amid the tension in the party over allegations that rural development minister Anil Sharma and his father Sukhram had switched over to the BJP.

The minister also presented a shawl and cap to felicitate 84-year-old Singh.

Commenting on Anil Sharma’s alleged ‘exit’, Singh said, “It’s not for the first time that this is happening. Leaders keep coming and going; this happens more during election time.”

The chief minister, whose political career spans over 50 years, is fighting his last electoral battle .

So far, he has contested elections from three different assembly segments — Rohru, Jubbal Kotkhai and Shimla rural.

Meanwhile, Stokes’ decision to opt out of the electoral battle just ahead of polls has not gone down well.

“Stokes should have consulted her voters. During her last tour, she was campaigning and announced that she would contest the election. Now, suddenly she offered the seat to Virbhadra,” said Rattan Mehta, a local.

CPM, BJP COMPLAIN ABOUT ‘DRINKS PARTY’ IN THEOG REST HOUSE The BJP and CPM have complained about a video of a drinks party being organised in a government rest house in Theog on Friday evening.

The video is being widely circulated on social media platforms.

CPM candidate from Theog Rakesh Singh informed Shimla deputy commissioner Rohan Chand Thakur about the liquor party at around 9pm on Saturday .

He also sent a video and photographs of the party.

The BJP’S local unit has also made a complaint to the election commission regarding the same.

In both complaints, it was said that the local Congress leaders and some government officers were present at the party. Shimla DC Rohan Chand Thakur said Theog sub-divisional magistrate has been asked to probe the matter.

“I will take action against erring officers after getting the inquiry report. This will not be tolerated,” he said.