HlP chief caught in muddle of politics
Himachal lokhit Party (HlP) chief Maheshwar Singh is king of Kullu and considered as senior politician of the State but his recent political steps have raised several questions both within and outside the party. Most of the senior leaders have deserted his two-year old party of which he is the lone MlA for his closeness with Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his decision not to merge his party with the BJP nor contest the lok Sabha election. Maheshwar Singh is trying to put up a brave face after mass exodus from his party to the BJP but now he has come under new problem. local Congress leaders from Kullu Assembly constituency are now opposing his closeness with Congress leaders and have said that during Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh’s tour next week, the issue will be raised vociferously. “Now it seems Maheshwar Singh has lost his credence as he is not accepted in his own party, not accepted in BJP and now even in Congress,” said a senior leader from Mandi parliamentary constituency.
When Sukhu had a slip of the tongue
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s rally at Dharamshala was a show of strength for the Congress, meant to motivate party workers but the rally also saw fissures coming into fore. HPCC chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, who was snubbed by the party leadership in ticket distribution exercise, was addressing the gathering and lavishing all praise on Gandhi. Suddenly, he had a slip of the tongue and said that ‘your commitment for corruption’ instead of “your commitment for eradication of corruption” made everyone smile at the gaffe. Sukhu immediately corrected himself.
Anurag Thakur’s new found friend
Hamirpur sitting MP Anurag Thakur set the tongue babbling in the political corridors when he said that HPCC chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu is his friend. This statement of Thakur was not taken lightly by rival faction of HPCC chief, as Sukhu contests from Nadaun Assembly constituency falling in Hamirpur. “It appears Sukhu has a secret understanding with Dhumals,” said a Congress leader, belonging to a rival faction of Sukhu.