Factionalism to fore in Himachal Congress as high command stalls Pratibha’s decision to re-induct former Speaker Musafir
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TNR Desk
A controversy has erupted in the Congress over the reinduction of former Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker and ex-MLA from Pachhad Gangu Ram Musafir in the party.
Congress state president Pratibha Singh facilitated Musafir’s induction into the party at the Shimla headquarters on Saturday. However, late Sunday night, the party’s state general secretary (organisation) Rajneesh Kimta issued a clarification against the decision.
Was expelled for six years
Quoting Himachal Pradesh Congress in-charge Rajeev Shukla, Kimta stated that the news of Musafir’s return to the party was erroneous, confirming his expulsion for six years. He said the matter of Musafir’s potential return was still pending with the party high command and would be decided by the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
The swift reversal of the decision within 24 hours has raised numerous questions. Prior to Musafir, rebel Congress leaders Paras Ram from Ani and Jagjivan Pal from Sulah had joined the party. Buddhi Singh Thakur, former party’s president of Kullu district, who had supported rebel Paras Ram, also rejoined the party. This has led to speculation in political circles as to why there is uncertainty surrounding Musafir’s return. Sources suggest that this had caused turmoil within the party.
Blamed for Cong defeat in Pachhad
Pratibha had issued a press statement endorsing Musafir’s return, asserting that it would bolster the party. However, this situation reflects the persistent factionalism within the Congress even during the run-up to Lok Sabha poll and the Assembly byelections.
In the 2022 Assembly elections, the Congress had fielded Dayal Pyari, who was affiliated with the BJP till 2019, as its candidate from Pachhad. Following her failure to secure the ticket in the 2019 Assembly byelection, she defected from the party and contested as an independent in the Pachhad byelection.
About six months prior to the 2022 Assembly elections, Shukla facilitated Pyari’s entry into the Congress, granting her the party ticket. Consequently, Musafir rebelled in Pachhad, contesting the election independently, leading to the Congress’s defeat. Following his independent candidacy, Musafir was expelled from the party for six years.
