Shimla, May 29: With there being no end to the bickering between Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and state Congress president Sukwinder Singh Sukhu, the Congress high command has summoned the two leaders to iron out their differences which are demoralizing the party cadres.
It is reliably learnt that the Central leadership has summoned the Chief Minister and party chief to Delhi on May 29 to put an end to the feud between the two. With barely six months left for the Assembly elections, it is being felt that the differences between the two need to be ironed out as it was adversely impacting the party prospects.
The two are likely to hold a meeting with All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Ambika Soni, who is also in-charge of Himachal Congress along with other leaders. Virbhadra Singh on Sunday left for Delhi. There have been hectic political parleys during the last two days with loyalists of the Chief Minister getting signature of the entire Congress legislators, expressing faith in his leadership.
It is reliably learnt that Virbhadra camp has also got the signatures of some of the Congress office bearers to give an impression that he enjoys not just the support of party MLAs but even party leaders. With virtual battle lines drawn between the two, an endeavour is being made by both the camps to muster the support of party MLAs as well as party leaders.
Sources said that about two dozen MLAs had signed even in favour of Sukhu which he too will present before the high command to show that they are not against him.The feud between Virbhadra and Sukhu has been escalating over the past one month with the Chief Minister even demanding change of the party chief.
He has expressed his displeasure over the functioning of the organization and has suggested that steps need to be taken to make the party strong. He has suggested the name of Excise and Taxation Minister Prakash Chaudhary and Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma. He has said that an OBC or a person from the Brahmin community must be made the party head.
Sukhu, on the other hand, has geared up the party cadres and toured the entire state. He has activated various party cells with an eye on the Assembly elections due later this year. He has had some differences with the Chief Minister over the appointment of party office bearers. Though the two have met to discuss the irritants but their relation are far from over. Now it remains to be seen whether the intervention of the party high command will finally put an end to the tussle between the two.
Source Tribune
