37 Himachal Cong leaders expelled for anti-party activities
SHIMLA: After facing defeat in the assembly elections, the Congress toughened its stance against dissidents and expelled 37 leaders from the party for six years on Wednesday, for allegedly working against party candidates in the polls.
The Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu took the step after getting nod from All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Rahul Gandhi.
Rahul took the decision after he analysed the electoral reverses the party suffered in the elections. Majority candidates termed infighting, sabotage by local leaders and lack of resources and public disconnect as the main reasons for the party’s embarrassing defeat.
The Congress secured 21 seats out of total 68, coming down from 36 in the 2012 elections.
The expelled Congress leaders include former minister Rangila Ram Rao, a loyalist and former political advisor to Virbhadra; former legislators Raghibir Singh from LahualSpiti, Manjit Dogra and Tek Chand Dogra from Nachan.
“All 37 leaders have been expelled for six years. Expulsion were made after analysing complaints from the party nominees,” said party general secretary and chief spokesperson Naresh Chauhan.
Rahul Gandhi also ousted Virbhadra’s son Vikramaditya Singh from the post of state youth Congress. Vikramaditya was elected to the post in 2013 in organisational elections.
Manish Thakur became the new state youth Congress president. He hails from Rohru in Shimla district and is close to Rahul.
Meanwhile, Vikramaditya was in New Delhi for an orientation programme and could not be reached for comments.