Post-bypoll, Kuldeep Rathore's stature grows in Himachal Congress

Pratibha Chauhan

Shimla, January 11

Even as several Congress leaders are lobbying for the top party post, HPCC president Kuldeep Rathore has asserted his position amid changing equations in the Congress after the death of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

Focus on poll

As long as I am the party president, only people with clean image and winnability will be considered for the party ticket in the Assembly poll. — Kuldeep Rathore, HPCC President

Critics silenced, for now

• The plans of several leaders, seeking a change in the leadership, have been put on hold after the Congress win in the four byelections
• All those who were anticipating a change in the party leadership have been silenced, at least, for a time being.

The plans of several leaders, seeking a change in the leadership, have been put on hold after the Congress win in the four byelections. All those who were anticipating a change in the party leadership have been silenced, at least for a time being.

Though some legislators recently met the central party leadership seeking one of the two posts of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) or HPCC for Nadaun MLA Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, the party high command does not seem to be in a mood to make any immediate changes.

Rathore, whose position has certainly been strengthened after the bypoll, does not enjoy the support of majority MLAs. He had been dependent on the Virbhadra faction for support till the former CM was alive.

However, the equations within the Congress have changed now with many changing their loyalties. While CLP leader Mukesh Agnihotri is keen to take on the duties of the PCC chief, Sukhu is eyeing the post of CLP leader.

While Sukhu has been able to garner the support of about a dozen legislators, many of whom were in the Virbhadra camp, a change in the immediate future could be ruled out. CWC Rajeev Shukla as well as AICC secretary Sanjay Dutt seek the opinion of legislators as well as senior leaders from time to time.

However, what goes to his credit is that he has not tried to cultivate parallel leaders in various Assembly segments which will certainly help the Congress.

“I have tried my level best to strengthen the party but my focus has been the 22 Assembly segments where the Congress lost in the previous poll,” says Rathore.

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