Shimla: Himachal Pradesh’s political landscape has been stirred by allegations from Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh, who claims a conspiracy is being orchestrated against Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri. Singh’s assertion, made via a Facebook post, adds fuel to ongoing speculations about factionalism within the state’s ruling Congress party.
The controversy was ignited by a cryptic social media post from Deputy CM Agnihotri, stating, “Saajishon ka daur… jhoot ke paavn nahin hote” (“An era of conspiracies… lies can’t last long”). This message, though lacking specifics, has been widely interpreted as a reference to internal party dynamics. The post coincided with Agnihotri’s presence in New Delhi alongside Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Pradesh Congress Committee President Pratibha Singh, where they attended a Congress Working Committee meeting.
Vikramaditya Singh, son of the late six-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, responded by suggesting that Agnihotri is the target of a deliberate campaign to undermine him. Singh’s comments have intensified discussions about the existence of rival factions within the Himachal Pradesh Congress, particularly between supporters of CM Sukhu and those aligned with the legacy of Virbhadra Singh.
Adding to the intrigue, a closed-door meeting between Agnihotri and Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh in Una has sparked rumors of an impending reshuffle within the state Congress leadership. Speculation is rife that Anirudh Singh may be considered for the position of state Congress president, potentially replacing Pratibha Singh.
The Himachal Pradesh Congress has been operating without district and block-level leadership for nearly six months, leading to concerns about organizational paralysis and grassroots disengagement. Senior party figures, including Cabinet Minister Chander Kumar, have publicly criticized the state unit’s inaction, describing it as directionless.
In a related development, Vikramaditya Singh previously tendered his resignation from the Cabinet, citing feelings of humiliation and marginalization within the party. However, he later retracted his resignation following interventions from the Congress central leadership, which is actively seeking to mediate internal disputes and maintain party unity.
As the Congress party navigates these internal challenges, the coming weeks are expected to be critical in determining the stability and cohesion of its leadership in Himachal Pradesh.
Sunil Chadha
