State leaders want contingency plan ready

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 29

With Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in a spot after the Enforcement Directorate issued notice to him in a money laundering case, state party leaders are urging the party leadership to draw up a contingency plan.

Sources in the Congress say top Himachal leaders have been apprising party president Sonia Gandhi of the case against Virbhadra and its potential political fallout for the Congress, which finds itself in a bind over the matter.

It is learnt that though the Congress hasn’t yet drawn up any leadership plan, should the situation demand, it is in discussions with the CM, state leaders and the CM’s lawyers on the possible consequences of the ED case, which is an offshoot of the CBI’s disproportionate assets case against Virbhadra and his wife Pratibha.

The ED has asked the CM to appear in person or through an authorised representative on December 2 in New Delhi. Virbhadra Singh was in Delhi last Friday to discuss the notice with his lawyer and senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal, whom he has authorised to represent his matter before the ED.

Although the Congress has decided to throw its weight behind Virbhadra Singh, terming it vendetta politics, sources said a preliminary debate has begun on what the alternative leadership plan in Himachal could be if the party is faced with any eventuality in the criminal case against its sitting CM.

Among those viewed as possible Virbhadra Singh replacements are senior leaders Vidya Stokes, Kaul Singh and Himachal legislator and AICC secretary Asha Kumari. “These are very preliminary debates on this issue and some names are evident, “ a source privy to goings on says.

Earlier, former Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda had been arrested by the state Vigilance Bureau in the multi-crore mining and money laundering case after he had in 2009 refused to appear before the ED following summons to him. Koda had managed a bail in 2013.

Though Virbhadra says he is on strong legal footing and his lawyers maintain the charges to be weak, sections in the Congress are wary about its possible political consequences.

“It’s a serious case. Let’s see,” a senior Congress leader said as the party continues to be in a wait-and-watch mode over the emerging situation.

Another Congress senior said, “The leadership has been apprised of the matter by many state leaders. Some of them have urged for a political contingency and alternative leadership plan to be readied. The ball is in the high command’s court. “