Himachal ministers flag interference by CMO, lopsided development to Congress brass

Senior ministers in the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government have alleged interference by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) in their departments. The allegations were made in CM Sukhu’s presence as they met party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi today.

The party high command had called the CM, senior ministers, including Mukesh Agnihotri, Dhani Ram Shandil, Chander Kumar, Harshwardhan Chauhan, Jagat Singh Negi and Rohit Thakur, and Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Pratibha Singh for a discussion on issues related to governance, forging a consensus on the new party president and reconstituting the dissolved state party unit.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary KC Venugopal and AICC in-charge for Himachal Rajni Patil were also present.

Sources said during the discussions, the ministers claimed “centralisation of power” and “interference from the CMO”. “Gandhi and Kharge gave us a patient hearing, and made it clear that the issue needs to be addressed at the earliest. They asked us to work as a team,” said a minister. Gandhi is learnt to have pointed out that bureaucrats were “running the show” in the state.

The ministers complained of lopsided development in the state, alleging that the lion’s share of the funds was going to only two-three Assembly segments. “Funds from the Special Central Assistance Plan, Nabard, etc., are not being distributed equitably,” said the minister.

The issue of political adjustments in boards and corporations also came up during the discussions. It was pointed out that Congress loyalists weren’t being accommodated, creating resentment within the party. Besides, the party’s defeat in the Lok Sabha elections and an embarrassing loss of a Rajya Sabha seat were also discussed.

The ministers were of the view that a political heavyweight should be appointed as the new party president to counter the BJP, which had chosen an experienced hand for their top post.

The party high command has asked Patil to get feedback from the ministers individually on the issue of HPCC party president. “The party high command was informed that elections to urban local bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions were round the corner, and that there was an urgent need to appoint the party president and constitute district and block-level committees at the earliest,” said a state party leader.