Days after Himachal minister targets high command, son slams Sukhu govt for ‘ignoring’ Congress workers

DHARAMSHALA: Former Congress MLA Neeraj Bharti, whose father Chander Kumar is Agriculture Minister in the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Himachal Pradesh government, has attacked the ruling regime for allegedly neglecting loyal party workers.

Addressing the media in his home constituency Jawali in Kangra, Neeraj Bharti, who has remained a Chief Parliamentary Secretary in the Virbhadra Singh government from 2012-17, said the Congress workers had fought unitedly against the BJP regime and secured a victory in 2022.

Alleges works of loyal Congress workers not being done

“Despite this, the Congress workers are feeling neglected. Their works are not being done, which has left the loyal Congress soldiers demoralised,” he said.

Neeraj Bharti claimed that the Congress workers were unable to even secure choice postings for their family members or relatives who were punished and transferred to far-flung areas by the previous BJP regime.

Father targeted high command over organisation paralysis

Himachal Pradesh Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar had recently launched a scathing attack on the Congress high command, questioning the party’s organisational paralysis in the state.

Speaking to the media in Shimla on February 11, 2025, Chander Kumar had said the Congress structure in Himachal Pradesh had become completely dysfunctional, with no clear leadership to guide workers.

Chander Kumar had criticised the high command for dissolving the state, district and block-level committees three months ago without forming a new organisation, leaving party workers frustrated and directionless.

Asks how to fight elections without organisation

Chander Kumar had emphasised that the government and party organisation must work together, but in Himachal Pradesh, the Congress lacked a functional structure.

“All committees have been dissolved. In such a situation, how can we prepare for the forthcoming panchayat elections and the 2027 Assembly poll?” he had questioned. He also pointed out that the Congress had failed to fight the Delhi elections with full preparedness.

Highlighting the deteriorating state of affairs, Chander Kumar remarked that Congress workers in Himachal were demoralised and the party’s state headquarters Rajiv Bhavan in Shimla wore a deserted look.

Despite repeated appeals from leaders to form a new organisational structure, the high command remained indifferent, he had said.

At present, state Congress president Pratibha Singh is the only senior office-bearer in Himachal, while the BJP, in contrast, has strengthened its base by adding 18 lakh new members and appointing new district and block presidents.

Sunil Chadha