Himachal Pradesh Congress chief Pratibha Singh on Friday said their immediate goal is to strengthen the Congress for the Lok Sabha polls, but she can’t say what will happen in the future. She stated this while replying to a media query about speculations of her and her minister son Vikramaditya Singh joining the BJP. Interestingly, her statement came amid rumours about Vikramaditya having a meeting with 6 Congress rebel MLAs in Chandigarh last night.Pratibha said, “I have not thought about this right now. We have spent our entire life in the Congress party and our ideology is of the Congress. Our immediate goal is to strengthen the Congress for the Lok Sabha polls. I cannot say what will happen in the future.”She rejected media reports about Vikramaditya meeting the Congress rebels. She said, “There is no such thing. He has a tour programme that includes a visit to Delhi. He may meet the Congress high command if they call him.” On whether there were demands to change the CM, she said, “Yes, but the observers told us that the high command has said the CM will continue.”On what will they do if their concerns aren’t addressed, she said, “Let us see. We may go to Delhi to place our views before the high command again. We want to talk and find a way out. We have just spoken to the observers yesterday, it is too early to discuss the next steps. Whatever the high command decides will determine what we do next.”Talking about the party organisation in the state, Pratibha said, “We have been in government for 14 months and I have been regularly telling the CM that things aren't fine, that there is dissatisfaction among the party workers over their neglect by the government. Had these concerns been addressed before we wouldn't have been in this situation today. Now the Lok Sabha election may be announced anytime. I don't think we have enough time left to address all the grievances but let's see what we can do. I also admit that it will be difficult to resolve everything so soon because so many issues have piled up.”On the CM assurance that a statue of her late husband and former CM Virbhadra Singh will be installed soon, she said, “He has said this earlier too. This is not just Vikramaditya or my demand. Everyone in the state wants it to happen because Virbhadra Singh, a 6-term CM of the state, has done so much for Himachal. The people were even willing to crowd fund the statue. All we wanted was for the government to allot land for it on the Ridge Grounds which wasn't done in the past year despite repeated requests to the CM. So it is natural for Vikramaditya and the people to feel hurt. Let's see what happens now.”'Will challenge decision'Disqualified from the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, the six rebel Congress MLAs on Thursday said that the Speaker has taken the decision in a haste and under pressure from the chief minister, which they would challenge in the court of law.Still camping at Panchkula in Haryana, the defiant MLAs said they were not willing to compromise their self-esteem which was hurt in the last one year. They ruled out the possibility of returning back to the Congress fold as they brace for the legal battle. Sudhir Sharma, a four-time Congress MLA from Dharamsala, said he would challenge the decision in court as there was ample evidence to prove their presence in the House. “The collapse of the Congress government is imminent and in the interest of the state. I am not the one to get intimidated as I believe in acting fearlessly,” he said. Rajinder Rana, three-time Congress MLA from Sujanpur who defeated former CM PK Dhumal in 2017, said the Speaker’s decision would be challenged in court. He said he had not received any notice from the Vidhan Sabha for disqualification. He said the six MLAs had been compelled to revolt due to the dictatorial style of functioning of the chief minister. “We had been facing humiliation for the last 14 months and there was no action despite apprising the high command about it. As such we were compelled to take this step,” he said. “There is no question of going back to the Congress and the CM is lying that we are in touch with him,” he added. Sukhu to remain CMSukhvinder Singh Sukhu will continue as the chief minister of the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh, Congress observer DK Shivakumar told the media in Shimla on Thursday (February 29). “All the MLAs want a Congress government for five years...There is no ‘Operation Lotus’ here,” he added. “All is well. We have spoken to all the MLAs; the government will complete its five-year term,” Shivakumar asserted.Panel to coordinateFellow Congress observer Bhupinder Singh Hooda said a six-member coordination committee will be set up to ensure the smooth functioning of the Himachal government and coordination with the state Congress unit. It will comprise the CM, Deputy CM, the PCC chief, and three other members whose names will be announced later,” he added. “Sukhu has accepted there were mistakes but these will ...
Himachal Pradesh Congress chief Pratibha Singh on Friday said their immediate goal is to strengthen the Congress for the Lok Sabha polls, but she can’t say what will happen in the future. She stated this while replying to a media query about speculations of her and her minister son Vikramaditya Singh joining the BJP. Interestingly, her statement came amid rumours about Vikramaditya having a meeting with 6 Congress rebel MLAs in Chandigarh last night.Pratibha said, “I have not thought about this right now. We have spent our entire life in the Congress party and our ideology is of the Congress. Our immediate goal is to strengthen the Congress for the Lok Sabha polls. I cannot say what will happen in the future.”She rejected media reports about Vikramaditya meeting the Congress rebels. She said, “There is no such thing. He has a tour programme that includes a visit to Delhi. He may meet the Congress high command if they call him.” On whether there were demands to change the CM, she said, “Yes, but the observers told us that the high command has said the CM will continue.”On what will they do if their concerns aren’t addressed, she said, “Let us see. We may go to Delhi to place our views before the high command again. We want to talk and find a way out. We have just spoken to the observers yesterday, it is too early to discuss the next steps. Whatever the high command decides will determine what we do next.”Talking about the party organisation in the state, Pratibha said, “We have been in government for 14 months and I have been regularly telling the CM that things aren't fine, that there is dissatisfaction among the party workers over their neglect by the government. Had these concerns been addressed before we wouldn't have been in this situation today. Now the Lok Sabha election may be announced anytime. I don't think we have enough time left to address all the grievances but let's see what we can do. I also admit that it will be difficult to resolve everything so soon because so many issues have piled up.”On the CM assurance that a statue of her late husband and former CM Virbhadra Singh will be installed soon, she said, “He has said this earlier too. This is not just Vikramaditya or my demand. Everyone in the state wants it to happen because Virbhadra Singh, a 6-term CM of the state, has done so much for Himachal. The people were even willing to crowd fund the statue. All we wanted was for the government to allot land for it on the Ridge Grounds which wasn't done in the past year despite repeated requests to the CM. So it is natural for Vikramaditya and the people to feel hurt. Let's see what happens now.”'Will challenge decision'Disqualified from the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, the six rebel Congress MLAs on Thursday said that the Speaker has taken the decision in a haste and under pressure from the chief minister, which they would challenge in the court of law.Still camping at Panchkula in Haryana, the defiant MLAs said they were not willing to compromise their self-esteem which was hurt in the last one year. They ruled out the possibility of returning back to the Congress fold as they brace for the legal battle. Sudhir Sharma, a four-time Congress MLA from Dharamsala, said he would challenge the decision in court as there was ample evidence to prove their presence in the House. “The collapse of the Congress government is imminent and in the interest of the state. I am not the one to get intimidated as I believe in acting fearlessly,” he said. Rajinder Rana, three-time Congress MLA from Sujanpur who defeated former CM PK Dhumal in 2017, said the Speaker’s decision would be challenged in court. He said he had not received any notice from the Vidhan Sabha for disqualification. He said the six MLAs had been compelled to revolt due to the dictatorial style of functioning of the chief minister. “We had been facing humiliation for the last 14 months and there was no action despite apprising the high command about it. As such we were compelled to take this step,” he said. “There is no question of going back to the Congress and the CM is lying that we are in touch with him,” he added. Sukhu to remain CMSukhvinder Singh Sukhu will continue as the chief minister of the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh, Congress observer DK Shivakumar told the media in Shimla on Thursday (February 29). “All the MLAs want a Congress government for five years...There is no ‘Operation Lotus’ here,” he added. “All is well. We have spoken to all the MLAs; the government will complete its five-year term,” Shivakumar asserted.Panel to coordinateFellow Congress observer Bhupinder Singh Hooda said a six-member coordination committee will be set up to ensure the smooth functioning of the Himachal government and coordination with the state Congress unit. It will comprise the CM, Deputy CM, the PCC chief, and three other members whose names will be announced later,” he added. “Sukhu has accepted there were mistakes but these will ...