Ex-CM Virbhadra’s charisma fades

SHIMLA: The Congress suffered the worst-ever defeat in the Lok Sabha elections with the party failing to get lead even in one of the 68 Assembly segments with its stalwarts like Virbhadra Singh, six-time Chief Minister and star campaigner falling before the unstoppable saffron surge even in its bastions.

Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service
Shimla, May 23

The Congress suffered the worst-ever defeat in the Lok Sabha elections with the party failing to get lead even in one of the 68 Assembly segments with its stalwarts like Virbhadra Singh, six-time Chief Minister and star campaigner falling before the unstoppable saffron surge even in its bastions.

The humiliating drubbing suffered even in the Assembly segments represented by Congress stalwarts has raised questions on the party leadership and their ability to take on the BJP. With factors like factionalism, inflated egos, inexperienced state president, financial crunch and poor campaigning plaguing the party, Congress will require a complete overhaul if the party has to avert humiliation in the 2022 Assembly elections.

With octogenarian Virbhadra’s charisma clearly fading as indicated by poll results, the Congress will have to build up its middle rung leadership to take on the reins of the party before the 2022 Assembly polls.

Virbhadra, the party’s vote catcher and star campaigner, will have to do a lot of answering as the BJP has a formidable lead of over 29,000 votes from Arki, which he represents in the Assembly. Even in Shimla (rural), the segment represented by his son Vikramaditya Singh, the party trailed by over 15,000 votes. The BJP got a lead of over 17,000 votes in Theog, the home turf of state Congress president Kuldeep Rathore. The Congress trailed by over 14,000 votes in Haroli in Una, the segment represented by CLP leader Mukesh Agnihotri. The Congress campaign never picked up in the state with the BJP being way ahead with well planned and coordinated campaign, entrusting of responsibilities, penetration right up to the booth level and disciplined and dedicated party cadres. As was the case elsewhere in the country, there was no dearth of resources and funds for the ruling party, giving them a big advantage.

AICC president Rahul Gandhi, who addressed two rallies at Una and Solan, failed miserably to enthuse the party cadres and the party suffered a humiliating defeat. The change of the state Congress president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu just before the parliamentary polls reflected in the campaign. Kuldeep Rathore, who was entrusted the reins of the party pretty late, had little time to get into action.

The Congress stalwarts, including Virbhadra Singh, CLP leader Mukesh Agnihotri and Sukhu, shied away from contesting putting the party on the back foot right at the outset. Candidates like Pawan Kajal from Kangra and Ram Lal Thakur from Hamirpur were virtually pushed into contesting much against their wishes. The move to give ticket to Sukh Ram’s grandson Ashray backfired as he suffered a crushing defeat.

Dismal scenario

Six-time CM Virbhadra Singh will have to do a lot of answering as the BJP has a formidable lead of over 29,000 votes from Arki, which he represents in the Assembly.
Even in Shimla (rural), the segment represented by Vikramaditya Singh, the party trailed by over 15,000 votes.