Kuldip Rathore to remain party state chief till 2022 assembly polls
Dharamshala
Lobbying by a section of senior Congress leaders in the state with the party high command in Delhi for the removal of party state president Kuldip Singh Rathore has not proved effective.
Reports from the party high command at 10, Janpath, indicate that Rathore is here to stay till the state assembly elections in 2022.
Jumbo executive was announced last year
Rathore had announced a jumbo executive of the state unit last year comprising supporters of almost all the senior leaders of the party thereby ensuring that none bore any grudge against him.
The recent appointment of party spokespersons was also a part of his strategy to keep everyone happy.
Rathore was in the good books of late Virbhadra Singh and that is why the section eager to get him out had become active after the death of the six-time CM.
Trio strengthening its rank
Congress trio leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri, former minister Sudhir Sharma and MLA Asha Kumari, close allies of late Virbhadra Singh, had started strengthening their ranks by getting together all those who were not in the group led by former minister GS Bali.
It appeared to them that Rathore was getting close to Bali and hence they were keen to ensure his replacement.
Bali, along with some other senior leaders including three-time CM Ram Lal Thakur and former state president Sukhvinder Sukkhu, is crafting out his own strategy to gain an upper hand post the assembly polls in 2022.
Party high command not to antagonise anyone
Reports from party HQ in Delhi indicate that the party high command does not want a repeat of what all transpired in Punjab where they had to declare former minister Navjot Singh Siddhu as the party’s state president to prevent rebellion in the party. That is why in Himachal they are going to maintain a status quo till assembly elections are over. The party high command is said to be of the opinion that maintaining the status quo will give a signal to all other senior leaders that they can aspire to be CM if the party wins the assembly polls in 2022.
Rathore confirms visit to Delhi
Rathore, while confirming that he visited Delhi and met all senior leaders concerned, said that his target is to strengthen the party at the grassroots level and ensure that the party wins the 2022 assembly elections.
