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Virbhadra is new Himachal Congress chief, finally
Ending the week-long impasse over State leadership and putting rest to speculations, the Congress high command on Sunday appointed former Union Minister Virbhadra Singh as chief of the State unit and Kaul Singh Thakur as Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader.
The Congress leadership had to make last minute changes in the State leadership of the poll-bound State owing to pressure tactics and virtual
blackmailing adopted by Singh demanding a major say in the upcoming Assembly polls and threatening to join another political outfit.
In the notification issued by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Sunday, Singh was named as Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief, Kaul Singh Thakur as CLP leader replacing senior Congress leader Vidya Stokes and Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma as chief of campaign committee, a post earlier held by Singh.
After being forced to do last minute changes, the party leadership tried to placate the leaders of warring factions in the best possible way to avoid any further infighting. The notification also said that Thakur would be the CLP leader after the monsoon session of Himachal Assembly, which would pave his way for membership of the all-important screening committee headed by Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit, which would decide the allocation of tickets.
Congress sources said that Vidya Stokes, who was adamant on contesting elections from Theog constituency of Shimla district, was likely to be appointed member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC). Sources said that Stokes had turned down the offer of the central leadership for the post of Governor, but she might be persuaded after the elections.
Virbhadra Singh was informed about the central leadership’s decision of appointing him as PCC chief, in the morning by AICC secretary in-charge of the state, Anis Ahmed at his residence.
Party state in-charge Chaudhary Birender Singh confirmed the development and said the party was united and the reshuffle would pave the way for the party’s victory. “With Virbhadra Singh at the helm, Congress will march to victory,” he said.
Ending the week-long impasse over State leadership and putting rest to speculations, the Congress high command on Sunday appointed former Union Minister Virbhadra Singh as chief of the State unit and Kaul Singh Thakur as Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader.
The Congress leadership had to make last minute changes in the State leadership of the poll-bound State owing to pressure tactics and virtual
blackmailing adopted by Singh demanding a major say in the upcoming Assembly polls and threatening to join another political outfit.
In the notification issued by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Sunday, Singh was named as Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief, Kaul Singh Thakur as CLP leader replacing senior Congress leader Vidya Stokes and Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma as chief of campaign committee, a post earlier held by Singh.
After being forced to do last minute changes, the party leadership tried to placate the leaders of warring factions in the best possible way to avoid any further infighting. The notification also said that Thakur would be the CLP leader after the monsoon session of Himachal Assembly, which would pave his way for membership of the all-important screening committee headed by Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit, which would decide the allocation of tickets.
Congress sources said that Vidya Stokes, who was adamant on contesting elections from Theog constituency of Shimla district, was likely to be appointed member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC). Sources said that Stokes had turned down the offer of the central leadership for the post of Governor, but she might be persuaded after the elections.
Virbhadra Singh was informed about the central leadership’s decision of appointing him as PCC chief, in the morning by AICC secretary in-charge of the state, Anis Ahmed at his residence.
Party state in-charge Chaudhary Birender Singh confirmed the development and said the party was united and the reshuffle would pave the way for the party’s victory. “With Virbhadra Singh at the helm, Congress will march to victory,” he said.
