S Gopal Puri
Hamirpur: A video circulating widely in political circles of Himachal Pradesh has drawn attention to internal tensions within the ruling Congress. The footage, which has gone viral on social media, shows people engaging in heated arguments in the presence of a political advisor to Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu.
According to information available, the incident took place at a Public Works Department (PWD) rest house in Hamirpur town, where a meeting had been scheduled to deliberate on developmental projects for the region. However, midway through the gathering, disagreements surfaced reportedly over the non-inclusion of certain individuals in the meeting.
Eyewitnesses said that the situation escalated quickly, leading to a breakdown in consensus. The meeting, which was intended to provide a platform for discussing local development issues, could not proceed in a structured manner due to the dispute.
Unconfirmed reports suggested that two factions within the Congress party were at odds with each other. While details of the exchange remain unclear, it has been indicated that one group felt sidelined despite the party being in power in the state. The sense of exclusion is believed to have fuelled the confrontational atmosphere at the rest house.
Political observers note that such incidents can potentially weaken the party’s image at a time when governance and delivery of development projects are key priorities.
“Public disagreements, particularly when they surface in official-looking forums, often convey a message of disunity that the opposition is quick to capitalize on,” remarked a political analyst.
While the video continues to circulate and attract commentary, there has been no official statement from the Congress leadership in Hamirpur or from the office of the Chief Minister’s advisor present during the altercation.
Party insiders, however, acknowledge that differences within local units are not uncommon and efforts are generally made to resolve them internally.
The incident underscores the challenges of balancing competing interests within a broad political organization.
