With poll a year away, Cong embraces rebels

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 21

The Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) today revoked the expulsion of former Minister and staunch Virbhadra loyalist from Kullu, Satya Prakash Thakur and his wife Prem Lata who had been shown the door for their anti-party activities during the 2012 Assembly polls.

State Congress president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu revoked the expulsion of Thakur and his wife on the recommendation of the disciplinary committee of the HPCC. The Block Congress Committee and District Congress Committee of Kullu too had favoured the revocation of Thakur and his family.

Besides Thakur, the party has also revoked the expulsion of Devender Negi from Manali who too had been expelled for anti-party activities for a period of six years.

Some former MLAs like Yog Raj (Pragpur), Mast Ram (Karsog) and Ishwar Dass (Ani) are still awaiting their re-entry into the party. Both Yog Raj and Mast Ram had contested the 2012 Assembly elections against the official candidate of the Congress party, resulting in their expulsion. Dharamvir Dhami from Kullu had also been expelled from the party along with other rebels and their expulsion still not revoked.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had all along been advocating that the rebels who had been expelled from the party after the last Assembly polls should be taken back in the interest of the party. Now, while taking them back in the party fold, Sukhu has asked these leaders to work with sincerity and dedication, in party interest and said that the cases of the remaining would be decided on the recommendation from the BCC and the DCC.

It was immediately after the Assembly polls in 2012 that show cause notices had been issued to 86 leaders while notices issued to 13 were withdrawn prior to the Lok Sabha elections in 2013. Some more leaders had been taken back but about 30 expelled leaders are yet to be taken back into the party fold.

The decision to take back rebels comes close on the heels of the two days Extended General House of the HPCC from October 24. Besides all senior leaders from the state, including Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Anand Sharma and Viplove Thakur, are expected to attend the meeting.