Himachal Congress coordination committee meeting in Chandigarh

TNR Desk

The coordination committee constituted by the Congress high command to manage the affairs for the June 1 Lok Sabha elections and the Assembly bypolls in Himachal Pradesh is holding a crucial meeting in Chandigarh on Wednesday (March 27, 2024).

The agenda includes fostering coordination between the state government and the party organisation as well as deliberations on the upcoming elections.

An attempt could also be made to persuade Congress state president Pratibha Singh to contest against BJP nominee Kangana Ranaut from Mandi. Pratibha had declined to contest in the Lok Sabha elections during a screening committee meeting held in Delhi last week.

She cited the party’s unfavourable condition, emphasising that MPs could not secure victories solely by disbursing funds and expressing dismay over the dissatisfaction among party workers who felt “ignored within the state government”.

Pratibha’s statement had put the Congress on the defensive. Nevertheless, there are indications that she might be persuaded to reconsider her decision in today’s meeting. The Congress hopes that Pratibha’s candidacy will reinvigorate party workers, bolstering their morale and revitalising party activities.

The meeting, chaired by state affairs in-charge Rajiv Shukla, will be attended by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Pratibha Singh, Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri, former state president Kaul Singh Thakur, Dhani Ram Shandil and Ramlal Thakur.

Pratibha has clinched victory in the Mandi Lok Sabha elections thrice while her late husband Virbhadra Singh has served as the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh six times. Her son Vikramaditya Singh is a minister in the Sukhu Cabinet, further raising the Congress’ hopes from this influential family.

The coordination committee will also decide on the responsibilities of various departments within the Congress, including the State Congress Committee, Youth Congress, Mahila Congress and the NSUI. Furthermore, discussions are expected regarding potential candidates for the Lok Sabha and Assembly byelections, as well as the allocation of ministerial portfolios within the government.