Bilaspur (S Gopal Puri & Munish Sood)
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu celebrated his government’s two-year milestone with a grand event at Luhnu Ground, Bilaspur, on Wednesday. Amidst a large turnout of party leaders, ministers, MLAs, and the public, Sukhu delivered a 30-minute speech focusing on his government’s achievements.
However, what caught the attention of many was a glaring omission—no mention of Himachal’s iconic leaders: former Chief Ministers Virbhadra Singh and YS Parmar, and Congress stalwart GS Bali.
Legacy Leaders Left Unmentioned
Virbhadra Singh, widely regarded as the architect of modern Himachal Pradesh, YS Parmar, the state’s first Chief Minister, known for laying its developmental foundation, and GS Bali, celebrated for his contributions to infrastructure and transport, were conspicuously absent from Sukhu’s address.
The omission has fueled speculation about Sukhu’s strained ties with the Virbhadra Singh family, particularly with Congress state president Pratibha Singh. Political observers believe this may further deepen existing divisions within the party, as Virbhadra Singh’s legacy continues to hold a revered place among Congress supporters.
The event also witnessed an unsettling moment when Congress leader Bambar Thakur interrupted Pratibha Singh’s speech, urging her to wrap it up. This public interruption visibly upset Singh and raised questions about the party’s internal cohesion.
Unlike Sukhu, both Pratibha Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri paid tributes to Virbhadra Singh, Parmar, and Bali in their speeches. They acknowledged the significant roles these leaders played in shaping Himachal Pradesh, contrasting sharply with Sukhu’s silence.
Sukhu’s Warning to the Opposition
While avoiding mention of past Congress stalwarts, Sukhu took the opportunity to criticize the BJP. He accused the opposition of harboring dreams of destabilizing the government, dismissing such aspirations with a sharp warning: “Stop dreaming about toppling the government. Focus on your own party’s survival. Let’s not end up with us at 48 and you at 20.”
A Question of Intent
The absence of references to iconic Congress leaders and the public rift on stage have overshadowed the celebratory event. For many, this raises questions: was the omission an inadvertent oversight, or a calculated political move to assert independence from the traditional Congress legacy?
As Sukhu navigates the remainder of his tenure, balancing internal party dynamics and consolidating public support will be crucial. With a divided house and legacy politics at play, the next three years may define not only Sukhu’s leadership but also the future of the Congress in Himachal Pradesh.
For now, the silence on Himachal’s towering leaders has left the state’s political observers speculating on the Chief Minister’s true intentions.
