Graft case against ex-Mayor brings Congress rift to fore

Tribune News Service

Lalit Mohan

Dharamsala, January 13

The registration of a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act against former Congress Mayor of Dharamsala Davinder Jaggi has brought to the fore intense infighting in the party unit.

Jaggi instead of accusing the ruling BJP blamed a Congress leader and his friends for the case against him. He said, “The Congress B team, which is working in league with the BJP, is behind the case against me. I put up posters and banners on New Year here. It was perceived that I might be seeking Congress ticket from the constituency in the Assembly poll and that seems to be the trigger behind the case.”

Cong b team to be blamed

The Congress B team, which is working in league with the BJP, is behind the case against me. I put up posters on New Year in Dharamsala. It was perceived as I might be seeking Cong ticket from the segment and that seems to be the trigger. —Davinder Jaggi, ex-mayor

It has brought out fissures in the Congress. After former minister and AICC secretary Sudhir Sharma lost the 2017 Assembly elections, the Congress has been divided in splinter groups.

In the 2019 byelection in Dharamsala, Sudhir refused to contest. This forced the party to field greenhorn Vijay Inder Karan, who finished third. After losing, Vijay Inder Karan blamed Sudhir for his defeat in the byelection.

In the elections for the Dharamsala Municipal Corporation last year, the Congress won just five out of the 17 wards. This time Jaggi and his supporters won whereas most candidates of the Sudhir camp lost.

Leaders of the Congress are divided among the groups of former minister Sudhir Sharma, Jaggi and the group loyal to the late former minister GS Bali. With the Assembly elections this year, the infighting poses a big challenge to the party high command.

Meanwhile, Sudhir Sharma said the case against the former Mayor was personal in nature and he did not want to comment on it.

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