Loyalty ‘unrewarded’, say Cong leaders who didn’t fight bypoll on CM Sukhu’s persuasion
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Dharamshala/Dehra: With the byelections to nine Himachal Pradesh Assembly constituencies having concluded, Congress leaders who sacrificed their political careers to accommodate the candidates nominated by the high command on the recommendation of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and party’s state president Pratibha Singh are eagerly awaiting “reward for their loyalty”, albeit an opportunity to advance politically.
Despite going with the party’s choice of candidates and not contesting as an Independent, a few leaders said, they were “yet to receive any communication or positive response from the CM’s office”.
In Dharamshala, prominent Congress leaders Vijay Inder Karan and Manoj Kumar (Gaddi) had supported CM Sukhu’s decision to field former Mayor Devender Singh (Jaggi) against BJP candidate Sudhir Sharma, who emerged victorious. However, both leaders haven’t been contacted since the elections.
When contacted on the matter, Manoj Kumar said, “No, nothing as of now. I can’t update you on this because no one has contacted me after the elections.”
Vijay Inder Karan, a young Congress leader who had contested the 2019 Dharamshala bypoll during a BJP wave after Sudhir Sharma refused to contest, remains cautiously optimistic. “It is the prerogative of our Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu. I can’t say much on this as of now,” he told TNR.
In Dehra, Dr Rajesh Sharma, a prominent Congress leader who had fought in 2022 but stepped aside to accommodate CM Sukhu’s wife Kamlesh Kumari during the recent bypoll, remains diplomatic. “I would not like to comment on this. There is no question of any gap or not fulfilling commitments as the CM is known for his words,” he said.
Changing political landscape of Himachal
The political landscape of Himachal Pradesh has undergone significant changes following the era of seasoned politicians Virbhadra Singh, Prem Kumar Dhumal, Major Vijay Singh Mankotia and GS Bali.
In 2017, Jairam Thakur emerged as a powerful BJP leader after being announced as the Chief Minister.
In 2022, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu took over as the CM when the Congress won 40 seats while the BJP secured 25. However, due to a lack of effective political strategists in Sukhu’s team, several Congress MLAs defected to the BJP, leading to byelections. Following these by-elections, the Congress again regained the strength of 40 seats while the BJP is at 28.
