Bypolls show Cong revival: Rathore

Bhanu P Lohumi
Tribune News Service
Shimla, November 21

The dissolution of Himachal Pradesh state, district and block Congress committees has come as a shot in the arm of incumbent HPCC chief Kuldeep Singh Rathore, who has not been dislocated and allowed to continue.

The decision has been welcomed by all as it will pave the way for complete revamp from grassroots to the top level. The dissolution of various committees is being seen as a major step to end factionalism that led to replacement of ex-HPCC chief Sukhwinder Sukhu by Kuldeep Rathore ahead of the LS polls.

Consensus in the party is that the new committee members and office-bearers right from the booth level should be workers who are active and enjoy good rapport with people. The decision will facilitate revamp of Congress committees from the state to block level. Dormant party leaders holding important posts would be weeded out and replaced by dedicated and active workers, said Rathore.

The party improved its position after the Lok Sabha elections. The margin of defeat in two Assembly by-elections narrowing down indicated that the party was on revival path, Rathore said adding that rallies organised against price rise, sliding of economy and loss of jobs were successful.

The new state committee and district and block committees would be constituted soon in consultation with the party high command. The leaders indulging in anti-party activities would face action.

During the anti-government rallies organised by the party, some senior leaders were conspicuous by their absence while some leaders were vocal in attacking their rivals within the party, causing embarrassment to the party.

Ex-CM Virbhadra Singh called the decision a “right step at right time” and expressed gratitude to AICC chief Sonia Gandhi. He said he had been pressing for corrections in the state working committee but his advice was not heeded, which led the party to present state but past is past and now the main challenge was to strengthen the party.

Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri said active and dedicated workers should be given place in the committee and efforts should be made to strengthen the party from the booth level.

Sukhu said the decision was welcome but several other steps were required to prepare the party for the next Assembly elections. The party high command has set up a three-member committee to study the reasons for defeat in bypoll but the war of words between rival factions intensified even before the committee gave its report and AICC president dissolved various committees, sources said.