‘Unhappy’ with HPCC chief, senior leaders gather at Kaul’s residence

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, June 20

Senior Congress leaders today met at the residence of former minister Kaul Singh Thakur. Those who attended the meeting include former minister Sudhir Sharma, former HPCC president Sukhwinder Sukhu, Palampur MLA Ashish Butail, Shillai MLA Harshwardhan Chauhan and Jubbal Kotkhai MLA Rohit Thakur.

The meeting assumes significance in view of the fact that a section of the Congress is unhappy with the working of HPCC president Kuldeep Rathore. At many occasions, some leaders had openly raised their voice against Rathore. Sudhir Sharma had openly spoken against the working of Rathore.

Sources here said the senior leaders were alleging that the Congress had failed to perform the role of an effective Opposition.

In the current scenario when lakhs of the youth had been rendered jobless in the state and the business community was in distress, the Congress had not stood with them, said a senior leader.

It is for the first time that leaders of various factions in the Congress have come together and held a meeting to draw a strategy. Kuldeep Rathore enjoys the confidence of former Union minister Anand Sharma. Some leaders also said the party activities were centred in Shimla and there was hardly any activities in other districts.

Rathore was accused of giving key posts to his chosen persons whereas the old guards were ignored. Sukhu said the meeting was held to discuss the current scenario in the state. He said they would soon meet with other party leaders like GS Bali to chalk out a strategy to strengthen the party.

‘Fissures’ in the party

• Those who attended the meeting include former minister Sudhir Sharma, former HPCC president Sukhwinder Sukhu, Palampur MLA Ashish Butail, Shillai MLA Harshwardhan Chauhan and Jubbal Kotkhai MLA Rohit Thakur
• They alleged that the Congress had failed to perform the role of an effective Opposition
• In the current scenario, when lakhs of the youth had been rendered jobless in the state and the business community was in distress, the Congress had not stood with them
• Rathore was accused of giving key posts to his chosen persons whereas the old guards were ignored

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