All does not seem to be well in ruling Congress in Himachal Pradesh as leaders have again rushed to Delhi Durbar to resolve the issues of infighting and factional supremacy in the State unit of the party.
Seven senior ministers and leaders of the party met Congress General Secretary in-charge of the state Ambika Soni on Tuesday with their grievances.
The latest crisis came to the fore after the announcements of list of new Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) last week. leaders of chief minister Virbhadra Singh camp are alleging that they have been neglected in the new PCC and rival camp leaders have been given important positions.
Such is the situation that even four names--all Virbhadra Singh loyalists-- which the high command had cleared for appointments at boards and corporation has been kept at hold for the time being.
The rival camp of Virbhadra Singh, led by union minister Anand Sharma and PCC chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu want some other names to be included for appointments as chairman of boards and corporation, reasoning that many senior leaders could not be accommodated in organisation.
The matter could not be resolved as chief minister Virbhadra Singh and Sukhu both failed to arrive at a consensus to accommodate many Singh loyalists into the organisations. The matter is further likely to be aggravated as chief minister has even put on hold the appointment of member of higher education regulatory commission as one of the contender for the post is loyalist of Sukhu.
On Tuesday, state transport minister GS Balli met Congress general secretary Ambika Soni as he is having problem with interference in his department by Virbhadra Singh loyalist Kewal Singh Pathania, vice chairman of Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) and wants him to go.
With Balli taking up the matter with high command after his resignation bid before Mandi bye-poll and having one to one discussions with chief minister, it appears that Pathania is likely to be removed but Virbhadra Singh is likely to give him plum posting at forest corporation as not to undermine the stature of his loyalists.
Among other leaders who met Soni are Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, Rangila Ram Rao, Harshvardhan Chauhan and chief minister’s wife Pratibha Singh. Assembly speaker Brij Biharilal Butail also met Soni and discussed the party and state affairs.
Sources said that appointment of chairman at boards and corporation and extension of PCC list especially in the category of secretaries and general secretaries was core agenda of the leaders meeting Soni.
“Industries minister Mukesh Agnihotri sought extension of industrial package while Pratibha Singh sought relief package for Kinnaur,” said a party source.
Sources said that some of the leaders, who met Soni took the matter of functioning of state government and requested for the intervention in putting a curb on unilateral decisions by chief ministers in appointments, transfer and postings.