The exit poll results, predicting total rout of Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre and formation of the BJP Government headed by Narendra Modi, has set in motion a spate of speculation about the future of Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.
In the event of bad performance of the Congress in Himachal Pradesh, the Chief Minister, who had been denying the existence of Modi wave and boasting of winning all the four seats, could be in trouble.
The sword of CBI enquiry report into the serious corruption and pay-offs charges against Virbhadra Singh, the report of which has already been submitted to the Delhi High Court with all documents including a diary seized by the Income-Tax department during search and seizure in the premises of a steel manufacturing firm when Virbhadra Singh was the Steel Minister containing a list of persons bribed. This and other charges of pay offs can land him in trouble.
The action was delayed by the Congress high command due to general elections. Now when the wind is blowing against the Congress and Virbhadra Singh, observers feel that in the changed circumstances it may not be feasible or possible for the Congress high command to protect or defend him.
The dissidents within the Congress party would also become active. A recent meeting in the native house of the former Director General of Police, I.D. Bhandari, who had been accused of phone tapping, in Ghumarwin village of Bilaspur district in which some big guns of the Congress including Dharmani, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, who recently resigned, also took part.
Former Chief Minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal, was also present in the meeting according to media reports. A strategy was reportedly drawn up by the dissidents to deal with Virbhadra Singh, who had allegedly been humiliating loyal Congress men and embracing the rebels and anti-party activists.
Many senior leaders in Congress have already started lobbying for the coveted post of Chief Minister, hoping that Virbhadra Singh could be replaced by the party to spruce up its image in the State. Those said to be in fray are IPH Minister Vidya Stokes and Transport Miniser, G.S. Bali. A choice can also fall on a non controversial person belonging to majority Rajput community of Himachal Pradesh, sources said.
It is believed that in the choice of the next Chief Minister, Anand Sharma, Union Minster, from Himachal Pradesh and close confidant of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, could be consulted. At the moment the top Congress leadership in New Delhi is reported to be under shock of the imminent defeat.
Balbir Punj, in-charge of BJP in Himachal Pradesh, during his recent tour of Mandi had stated in a reply to a question that that in the event of BJP coming to power at the Centre, the Congress Government in Himachal was likely to continue, but it is certain that Virbhadra Singh would go in the light of corruption charges and the pending CBI inquiry.