Shimla: In the aftermath of a devastating loss in the Rajya Sabha elections on Tuesday, the Congress party in Himachal Pradesh finds itself teetering on the edge of collapse. Reports emerging on Thursday night of a clandestine meeting between Vikramaditya Singh, scion of the prominent Singh political family, and six rebel MLAs have only added fuel to the political firestorm gripping the state.
Vikramaditya Singh, the son of six-time former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, held an emotional meeting with the rebel MLAs, whose cross-voting during the recent elections shook the foundations of the Congress government in the state.
While Singh himself did not engage in cross-voting, his impassioned accusations against the party’s handling of his father’s legacy exacerbated the challenges faced by the Congress in countering the attacks from the rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Sources reveal that Himachal’s Urban Development Minister is currently in Delhi for discussions with the Union Road and Transport Ministry, but took a detour to meet the rebel MLAs in Panchkula, Haryana. This unexpected rendezvous hints at the fragile state of affairs within the Congress ranks. Additionally, two other Congress MLAs from Himachal Pradesh have reportedly also met with the rebels, although the nature of their discussions remains undisclosed.
Also Read: 6 Congress MLAs who cross-votes in Himachal RS polls disqualified
Neither side has officially commented on the substance of these meetings, leaving the public and political observers in suspense. Vikramaditya Singh’s mother, Pratibha Singh, who heads the Congress’ state unit, professed ignorance regarding her son’s activities, indicating a potential disconnect within the party’s leadership.
Amid mounting speculation of internal discord within the Congress, Pratibha Singh expressed intentions to confer with the party’s central leadership, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, to apprise them of the situation. Her statements, coupled with remarks hinting at dissatisfaction with the current state government’s performance, underscore the deepening rifts within the party’s ranks.
As Himachal Pradesh braces for the upcoming general elections, the Congress faces an uphill battle in retaining its foothold in the state, which has increasingly become a stronghold for the BJP. With the BJP winning all four parliamentary seats in both 2014 and 2019, the Congress acknowledges the formidable challenge ahead.
Against this backdrop of political turmoil, Pratibha Singh’s appeal to strengthen the party’s organizational structure and her acknowledgment of the BJP’s effective governance suggest a sense of urgency within the Congress to regroup and strategize for the electoral contest ahead.
The resignation announcement by Vikramaditya Singh, coupled with his scathing critique of the Chief Minister’s leadership, further exacerbates the internal strife within the Congress, highlighting the urgent need for resolution amidst the escalating crisis.
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