Sukh Ram in Cong, call it homecoming

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 25

Former Telecom Minister Sukh Ram and his grandson Ashray Sharma today rejoined the Congress in the presence of the top Himachal Congress leadership.

Among those present at the event were AICC in charge of Himachal Rajni Patil, state party chief Kuldeep Rathore, Congress Legislature Party leader Mukesh Agnihotri, senior MLA Asha Kumari, AICC secretary for the state Gurkirat Kotli and Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.

Former Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh wasn’t there but he welcomed Sukhram in a Facebook post later during the day.

It’s learnt that Ashray Sharma could be fielded as the Congress candidate from Mandi Lok Sabha segment considering the clout Sukhram and his family have had in the area.

Virbhadra and family have already declined to contest from Mandi this time.

“I have won 13 elections from Mandi and the rest of the elections my son Anil Sharma has won. My grandson Ashray will also walk on the same path of development which I and Anil have followed,” Sukhram said indicating an understanding with the Congress about Mandi seat.

Officially though Rajni Patil only said that the party’s central election committee will take a call on the candidate from Mandi.

Surjewala added, “The candidature in question will be positively considered by the party depending on the proposal sent by the state election and screening committee.”

Sukhram and his son Anil Sharma had quit the Congress in October 2017 on the eve of Himachal elections citing humiliation by a section of state party leaders.

Anil Sharma won Mandi Sadar seat on BJP ticket in assembly polls and became a cabinet minister in Himachal.

As reported by The Tribune yesterday, Anil Sharma today indicated he could resign from the cabinet.

Sukhram’s reentry into the party is significant considering sour ties he has shared with Virbhadra Singh in the past.

“Rahul Gandhi told me that I was part of his family. This is what aided and expedited my homecoming to the Congress, where I have spent most part of my political life, “ 92 year old Sukhram said.

The Congress described the veteran as one of the stalwarts of North Indian politics and a “vikas purush”. The party trashed questions on the shadow of taint around the ex union minister.

"The fact is Sukhram ji has been acquitted in one case and the trial is pending in the other. Also the situation with respect to his cases hasn’t changed since 2017 when he briefly joined the BJP," Surjewala said on the issue of alleged involvement of Sukhram in the"telecom scam" .

The Congress said it hoped Sukhram would work to make Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister.

Surjewala also used the occasion to take a swipe at BJP and said while the Congress was welcoming elders and seeking their blessings, the BJP was snubbing its founders like LK Advani and seniors like Himachal strongman Shanta Kumar by denying them tickets.

Sukhram also hailed the Congress saying "This party has space for both young and old."

Sukhram turns 93 in three months.