Congress to contest election without CM face: Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu
THE ongoing cold war between congress leaders over the chief ministerial candidate in coming assembly elections in this tiny hill state today took a new curl after Congress election campaign committee president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said that there will be no chief minister’s face before assembly polls in the state.
He said that the people of Himachal were well aware concerning the chief minister face and would cast the votes.
However, he stayed sway making any comment over the possible Chief Minister’s face in congress party but said that anyone can be the Chief Minister’s face in the Congress provided he must be elected as MLA.
Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, in an informal conversation with media persons here on Wednesday said that he has never had a grudge with former Chief Minister late Virbhadra Singh. At times there were differences of opinion, which is a healthy tradition of democracy.
Earlier, Sukhu was accorded warm welcome by Party workers and leaders at Parwanoo, Jabli, Dharampur, Kumharhatti and Solan.
He said that earlier former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh used to be the chairman of the election campaign committee, now the central party high command had given this responsibility to him. Now, Pratibha Singh has been appointed the state Congress president in his family. Hence, Pratibha Singh and Mukesh Agnihotri will succeed in capturing the fort in Himachal.
He said that rising unemployment, rampant corruption and soaring prices would become biggest reason for the return of Congress to power. Alarming graph of unemployment in the state has crossed the figure of 11 lakhs. The BJP government did not bring any policy of employment. The issue of employment has been addressed only in Dharampur and Siraj constituencies only. He said that if Congress comes to power in the state, party would formulate a policy to boost and strengthen the rural economy and rural employment. Inflation is skyrocketing; hence only almighty God can save the people form “inflation ghost” The BJP government has no concern for the common man.
Replying to a question, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, Congress will give tickets to leaders of clean image only. Discussions have also taken place with the party’s high command. Those people should come forward in politics that have a sense of service in their mind. Tickets will be allotted only to the person of honest personality.
Commenting on the entry of AAP, he said that the path of Aam Aadmi Party is still long. Aam Aadmi Party will also take a long time to establish its root in the state. He said that the formation of Congress government in the state is almost certain.
Ridiculing Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, he said that he is working from Delhi with remote control. Giving advice to the Chief Minister, he said that it is 6 months now and if he runs the government with his discretion, he will definitely get some benefit from it.
“I am grateful to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur for saying that there are many contenders for Chief Minister in Congress. This shows that the Congress is full of capable leaders. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur is also agreeing to this. It is clear from this that the formation of the Congress government in the state is almost certain”.
On this occasion, Solan MLA Col Dhaniram Shandil, Arki MLA Sanjay Awasthi, Nalagarh MLA Lakhwinder Rana, Una MLA Satpal Raizada, Doon’s former MLAs Chaudhary Ramkumar and Vinod Sultanpuri, District President Shivkumar and many leaders were present.
