Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Congress unit chief Pratibha Singh has expressed her displeasure for not having a say in cupboard enlargement and appointments to boards and firms, saying that she was feeling “sidelined and harm”.
Singh and her son Vikramaditya Singh met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge final Thursday night in New Delhi and raised the problem of lack of coordination amongst social gathering employees and the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led social gathering authorities.
“We have to devise a mechanism to make sure coordination among the many authorities and the social gathering. That is required as we’ve got made guarantees to the folks of the state. Moreover, 1000’s of social gathering employees labored onerous to make sure victory within the 2022 elections. Coordination between the social gathering and the federal government is required in order that employees will not be demoralised,” Singh advised ThePrint.
The PCC chief was a contender for the chief minister’s put up after the Congress win in December final, however Sukhu took the coveted put up with Mukesh Agnihotri as his deputy. Later, Vikramaditya was given cost of the general public works division and the youth companies and sports activities in January.
This isn’t the primary time that Pratibha Singh has expressed her displeasure. Throughout her tour of Anni meeting phase in Kullu district in Could, she stated that some individuals are making an attempt to demolish the legacy of her late husband, Virbhadra Singh.
On 3 January, Congress held an Aabhar Rally in Dharamshala in Kangra district. Pratibha Singh was upset with the state management not crediting Virbhadra Singh for the Congress’ journey in Himachal Pradesh. “None goes to reside perpetually, however his contribution shouldn’t be forgotten,” she had stated, addressing the rally.
Then in March, when Sukhu and his ministers consistently accused the BJP of leaving the coffers empty within the state, the Congress state chief had stated that Raja Sahab (learn, her husband) wouldn’t have executed this. The CM ought to take into consideration easy methods to transfer ahead and revive the state economic system, she added.
At Thursday’s assembly with Kharge, the PCC chief is claimed to have flagged the problem of cupboard enlargement and appointments in boards and firms in Himachal.
“Celebration leaders, legislators, employees who’re aspiring for ministerial berths or the posts of chairman, vice-chairman of boards and firms met the PCC chief and she or he may solely guarantee them. How lengthy are you able to give an assurance to a celebration employee who labored onerous throughout elections? She needed to discuss to the Congress excessive command as social gathering leaders and employees are getting demoralised now,” a senior Congress functionary — near Pratibha Singh — advised ThePrint.
He added that the PCC chief has apprised Kharge that she and a number of other different employees are ‘harm’.
The Congress state chief had given a listing of leaders to be “adjusted” in boards and firms in Could however the checklist stay unaddressed, in accordance with the social gathering functionary. “Similar is the destiny of works. She has given or forwarded illustration of employees to the federal government for needed motion, however (there was) no response.”
The Himachal Congress chief, too, didn’t deny the purpose made by the social gathering functionary as she asserted that it was her “responsibility” to speak the emotions of social gathering employees.
“I met a number of social gathering employees, leaders day by day. They communicate what they’re dealing with, be it good or dangerous. That is my responsibility to characterize their voice earlier than the excessive command. I can’t preserve assuring them of correct illustration within the authorities or about another work and do nothing about it. This isn’t Virbhadra Singh’s household’s model of politics,” she advised ThePrint. “I really feel sidelined and harm.”
“Earlier than the 2022 election, the then ruling BJP was speaking about repeating its win. The Congress social gathering received united; employees labored onerous to carry our social gathering to energy. These loyal, true Congress employees needs to be rewarded. This shall be a grave injustice with them if we fail to do that,” she stated. “I may also meet Rahul ji, Priyanka ji and Okay.C. Venugopal ji to debate points.”
A legislator from Kangra district, who’s hoping to discover a place within the Himachal cupboard, advised ThePrint that the PCC chief has a sound level. “Each time the federal government comes, the social gathering leaders, employees who give their sweat and blood are appointed as chairman and vice-chairman of boards and firms. However, a number of new issues have occurred this time within the title of Vyavastha Parivartan (regime change),” he stated.
Whilst chief minister’s media advisor Naresh Chauhan claimed that there aren’t any variations throughout the social gathering in addition to the federal government, a Congress chief owing allegiance to Sukhu conceded to the rumblings inside a piece of the social gathering.
“There have been some appointments of CM’s loyalists as chairman and vice-chairman of boards and firms. This has upset many sections, particularly these eyeing the posts,” the Congress chief stated.
Within the 68-member state meeting, Himachal can have 12 ministers, together with the chief minister Whereas Sukhu is main the federal government, the state has one deputy CM and 7 cupboard ministers. A number of MLAs have been lobbying for the remaining three ministerial berths.
Chander Kumar is the lone minister from Kangra district, which has elected 10 of the full 40 Congress MLAs. Three days after the induction of seven ministers on 7 January, Pratibha Singh had advised the media that she would discuss to CM Sukhu about giving illustration to the “much less represented areas”.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Additionally Learn: Six months in, Sukhu-led Congress govt in Himachal faces a grim fiscal outlook
