Demand for new Himachal CM rejected by Congress top brass: Pratibha Singh

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 1

Congress state president Pratibha Singh today said that the party high command had rejected the demand to change Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. “The high command has rejected the demand. It has said the Chief Minister will continue,” said Pratibha while addressing mediapersons here.

Following the political upheaval in the Congress, speculation was rife that the party president and some MLAs were unhappy with the Chief Minister’s functioning and are demanding change in the leadership. She denied the rumours of her joining the BJP.

‘Not joining BJP’

There’s no thought of joining the BJP in my mind. I have worked all my life to strengthen the party. Even now we are working to strengthen the party and keep the government going. —Pratibha Singh, Congress president

Even as she expressed her commitment to the party, she did not hold herself back from spelling out the issues that, according to her, triggered the crisis for the party and the government. “Right from the start, I had been telling the Chief Minister to accommodate party workers who have worked day in and day out for the party. Put them in some committees or elsewhere, but accommodate them. It wasn’t done in 14 months, and that’s why we are facing this crisis,” she said.

“If these concerns had been addressed, we would not have been facing this crisis,” she said, hinting that all was still not well within the party.

Asked about alleged attempts to undermine the position of PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh in the government, she said it was being done and that’s the reason why he had expressed his resentment.

She said, “And it’s not just about Vikramaditya, it is happening with other ministers as well. If you have made them ministers, give them a free hand and let them work and do not create hurdles in their way. After all, they are also working for the betterment of the party.” She avoided a straight reply when asked if Vikramaditya had gone to meet the rebel MLAs putting up in Panchkula.

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