Cong factions spar during Rajni Patil’s Kangra visit

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, July 9

Congress incharge for Himachal Rajni Patil’s first visit to Kangra was marred by infighting in the Congress. While former CM Virbhadra Singh did not attend the function, the members of his faction targeted HPCC president Sukhwinder Sukhu.

Sudhir Sharma, former minister and party leader from Dharamsala, while addressing party workers in Matour in the presence of Rajni Patil, urged her to meet workers in the absence of Sukhu. He said party workers might not be able to share their views openly in the presence of Sukhu. The remarks by Sudhir were in continuance of tirade carried out by Virbhadra Singh and his faction against Sukhu.

Earlier, as Rajni Patil arrived on the dais, two Congress leaders, former MLA from Jwalamukhi Sanjay Rattan and former vice-chairman of the Forest Corporation Kewal Singh Pathania, had an argument over allowing certain leaders on the dais.

The HPCC president also retorted to his detractors and urged former minister GS Bali to contest the next election from the Kangra.

The supporters of Bali and Sudhir Sharma raised slogans in favour of their leaders.

Rajni Patil said public opinion on Sukhu from the would be taken and then the feelings would be conveyed to party president Rahul Gandhi.