Acting on reports of rising feud among Congress leaders in Himachal Pradesh, the Congress high command on Tuesday summoned Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and HPCC president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu to Delhi.
Though the visit of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to national capital was scheduled and was announced a week back, but Sukhu’s simultaneous visit raised eye brows.
Sources said both Virbhadra Singh and Sukhu had a formal meeting with Sushil Kumar Shinde, newly appointed General Secretary of AICC in charge of the poll bound state and party co-incharge Ranjeet Ranjan, AICC Secretary, deputy of Shinde for Himachal affairs.
Talking to media, Shinde said unity is the way forward but ruled out any changes in the leadership in Himachal Pradesh as he took over as the party’s general secretary in-charge for the state.
Shinde took charge in the presence of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma and PCC chief Sukhu, besides a large number of Congressmen from the state.
He will hold a meeting of the state Congress committee in Shimla on August 3 or 4 and will chalk out the further course of action. All party MlAs and district Congress chiefs will be present during this meeting.
Asked about serious dissension within the Himachal Congress, he said, “we will sort that out” and claimed that all partymen will unite and together fight to strengthen the party.
“Elections are just four months ahead. I know a lot of people and all like the CM, PCC chief, Anand Sharma and others have attended my taking over. This means that we all want to help strengthen the Congress. In the coming elections, we will unite going forward,” he said.
Asked if the party will go to polls with the present leadership, he said, “Yes, yes. There will be no changes.” On whether there will be any changes in the party set up, he said, “At the moment I do not know about the changes in the party.”
On six party MlAs having written to the party leadership for changing the chief minister Singh, Shinde said, “I have not seen the complaint by six MlAs. I will sit along with them and sort out the things after discussions”.
The former Union home minister said, “If there is anything to be corrected, we will introspect and correct it.”
On differences within, he said, “I’ll sort that out. Earlier too, there have been problems between Sukh Ram and Virbhadra Singh. They are all Congressmen and will all unite when there is need. It is need of the time when we will all unite and work for the party’s victory”.
About the recent rape incident here, he said, “the recent unfortunate incident has taken place, but CBI investigation has started. People have faith in the CBI”. Himachal Pradesh goes to polls later this year but the state Congress stands a divided lot.