Supporters of Virbhadra, Sukhu come to blows at new Cong chief''s takeover

Tribune News Service
Shimla, January 17 

The infighting within the Congress took an ugly turn with supporters of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and former party president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu coming to blows at the formal takeover by new chief Kuldeep Rathore at Congress Bhawan here today.

The warning by party in charge of the state Rajni Patil and state Congress president Kuldeep Rathore at a rally in Chaura Maidan about an hour before the showdown seemed to have had little impact. The two had warned everyone against issuing statements, making it clear that indiscipline would not be tolerated. Trouble broke out when the takeover by Rathore from Sukhu was taking place at Rajiv Bhawan in the presence of all senior leaders, including Patil, Virbhadra, Rathore, Sukhu, MLAs and party office-bearers. 

As tension started mounting amid supporters of the two leaders with counter-sloganeering, Patil took the mike and tried to pacify the workers by stating that slogans should not be raised in favour of anyone. She also tried to defuse the situation  by raising slogans in favour of the party.  However, by then the workers had already come to blows and started flinging chairs at each other in the presence of senior leaders. During the free-for-all, one Sewa Dal worker Rajeev Rana sustained head injuries and was rushed to hospital.  

It was after the intervention of senior leaders that the situation was brought under control and the formal handover completed.  Both Virbhadra and Sukhu had been engaged in a verbal duel since the removal of Sukhu as party chief with party leaders, including MLAs and former state presidents, issuing statements in favour of either of the two leaders.