Decision on re-admitting Virbhadra loyalists on hold

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 17

Even as the Congress has taken back five former legislators along with other rebels, a decision on re-admitting some of the staunch Virbhadra loyalists, who had contested the Assembly elections, has been put on hold.

The four-member committee constituted by the AICC to take a call on taking back the rebels ahead of the Lok Sabha elections met here yesterday under the chairmanship of AICC secretary Gurkirat Kotli. Former ministers and senior leaders Vidya Stokes and GS Bali attended the meeting.

It is reliably learnt that cases of 40 leaders for being re-inducted into the party have been taken up. Decks have been cleared for the return of former MLAs - Tek Chand Dogra (Nachan), Mast Ram (Karsog), Surinder Pal (Jogindernagar), Rangila Ram Rao (Sarkagahat) and Raghubir Singh Thakur (Lahaul Spiti). Others whose re-entry has been approved include Jeni Prem, Shashi Shekhar, Ashok Sood (all from Shimla) and Arun Bisht.

The committee, however, put on hold a decision on taking back some of the staunch Virbhadra loyalists like Harish Janartha (Shimla Urna), Hardeep Bawa (Nalagarh), Archana Dhawan (Shimla Urban), Atul Sharma (Theog), Upender Kant Mishra (Ani) and Inderjeet (Shimla Urban). Janartha had contested the Assembly election against Harbhajan Singh Bhajji from Shimla Urban and Hardeep Bawa from Nalagarh against Lakhwinder Rana. State Congress president Kuldeep Rathore today said that all those whose cases for re-admission were still pending would have to apply within a week, either to the committee constituted to take a call on return of rebels or to him. “The recommendations made by the committee, which met here yesterday for re-inducting party leaders, will be forwarded to AICC In-charge Rajni Patil for approval. In case anybody has any objection, they should write within a week’s time,” said Rathore. He added else the recommendations of the committee will be considered final.

It is reliably learnt that the committee has rejected the application of Hardeep Bawa from Nalagarh. Besides, contesting the election against the party’s official candidate, there are other issues pending against him, said sources.

The issue of re-admitting the rebels had been a major bone of contention between former CM Virbhadra Singh and former president SukhwinderSukhu. While Virbhadra advocated their return, Sukhu was of the opinion that those who contest against the party, when denied ticket, have no loyalty towards the party. In many places, respective BCCs have opposed the return of some rebels.

Ex-MLAs set to return

Decks have been cleared for the return of former MLAs - Tek Chand Dogra (Nachan), Mast Ram (Karsog), Surinder Pal (Jogindernagar), Rangila Ram Rao (Sarkagahat) and Raghubir Singh Thakur (Lahaul Spiti). Others whose re-entry has been approved include Jeni Prem, Shashi Shekhar, Ashok Sood (all from Shimla) and Arun Bisht.

Bawa’s application rejected

It is reliably learnt that the committee has rejected the application of Hardeep Bawa from Nalagarh. Besides, contesting the election against the party’s official candidate, there are other issues pending against him, said sources.