Central observers meet Himachal CM, Pratibha Singh to resolve crisis

Tribune News Service

Pratibha Chauhan

Shimla ,February 28

The crisis management team of the Congress comprising Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda today met Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and state Congress president Pratibha Singh.

Some defiant MLAs in touch with CM

• Industries and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan claimed that a couple of the six defiant MLAs, who had cross-voted, were in touch with the party leadership, the Chief Minister and other party leaders.
• The Finance Bill is an important part of the passing of the Budget and the six Congress MLAs were not present in the House despite a whip being issued and they being a signatory to the whip, they disobeyed the decree, said Chauhan.
• The Congress has sought the disqualification of the six rebel MLAs and the Speaker has heard the lawyers of both sides.

The two leaders, who have been appointed by the party to resolve the crisis, arrived here in the afternoon to prevent the collapse of the Congress government. They along with in-charge of Congress affairs Rajeev Shukla held parleys with the Chief Minister, Pratibha and her minister son Vikramaditya at a private hotel. A series of meeting with ministers and party MLAs continued late into the night as desperate efforts were made to defuse the situation.

He said, “Since the party organisation is more important than individual, I have decided not to press for my resignation. In the larger interest and unity of the party, I will not pursue it any further.” He added there should be a positive and constructive approach and it was the duty of each one of us to strengthen the party to be able to serve the people of the state.

Shukla said the Central observers, including Shivakumar, Hooda and former CM of Chhattisgarh Bhupesh Bhagel, were holding talks with party leaders. “They first met Pratibha Singh and other MLAs. Vikramaditya has also agreed that he will not press for his resignation,” said Shukla.

Sensing the threat of further poaching of its 34 remaining MLAs by the BJP, the endeavour of these leaders is to placate them and address their grievances. The party leadership is already aware of the discontent brewing among party MLAs, who are reportedly unhappy with the style of Sukhu’s functioning and being ignored.

With Vikramaditya tendering his resignation and openly airing his grouse against Sukhu and for being slighted, the effort now is to placate him. Even though Sukhu has said that Vikramaditya’s resignation had not been accepted, the high command would now be cautious on any issue raised by the party MLAs.

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