Ex-CM changes mind, to attend Patil’s functions

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 11

Having skipped the party conventions addressed by AICC In-charge Rajni Patil at Dharamsala, Mandi and Kullu, former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has decided to attend the party function scheduled at Solan and Theog later this week.

In a sudden political development, in the tour programme of Virbhadra Singh released it was officially confirmed that he will attend the party’s convention to be held on July 13 at Theog in Shimla district on July 14 in Solan.

The former CM, who has been very vocal in his criticism of state Congress president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, had decided to stay away from the newly appointed AICC incharge Rajni Patil’s first tour of Himachal. She is currently on a weeklong tour of all four Lok Sabha seats and on Wednesday addressed party workers at Kullu.

This being her first tour of the state, all senior party leaders, including MLAs, former ministers and legislators, are ensuring their presence at the functions. In fact, all sitting MLAs and other leaders owing allegiance to the Virbhadra Singh camp have also marked their presence at the party conventions being held to take the feedback of the party workers and functionaries.

Patil too has minced no words in sending a loud and clear signal to all party men that indiscipline will not be tolerated and everyone will have to sink their differences to ensure that Congress does well in the parliamentary elections next year.

Patil, in the presence of Sukhu and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Mukesh Agnihotri is gearing up the party cadres to take on the false propaganda of the BJP and highlight the failures of the BJP-led NDA regime.