To end the infighting and indiscipline within the state party unit over the poll-related bickering even before the results are out, the Congress high command issued a stern warning to party men to desist from levelling accusations and take up same in the media.
All India Congress Committee general secretary and party in-charge of Himachal Pradesh Chaudhary Birender Singh warn party leaders for the acts of indiscipline and asked them to avoid going to the media on party matters. In his brief but sternly worded dictate, party in-charge stated that any act of indiscipline would invite strict disciplinary action.
The process of hurling allegations began with the expulsion of 28 small leaders by the state party chief, which have now been stayed by the AICC general secretary. Anti Virbhadra Singh camp alleged that section of party president loyalist are setting their political score and had called expulsion as unlawful and unwanted. Whereas on the other side Virbhadra Singh loyalists accuse the rival faction, including Kaul Singh, GS Bali, Asha Kumari and Viplove Thakur, of causing damage to loyalists of the former Chief Minister by backing rebels. On the other hand, the rival camp insists that the “Raja” extended full backing to about 12 rebels, which could cost the party dear and termed the expulsion necessary and good for the party prospect.
The anti-Virbhadra camp also accuses the former Chief Minister of addressing rallies only in 60 Assembly segments while leaving out eight constituencies. The allegation is countered by the Virbhadra faction with the plea that he only had this much time at hand as he single-handedly ran the party campaign. They also point out that other stalwarts did not even step out of their segments despite being claimants to chief ministership.
All these issues raised by the two factions are likely to be taken up threadbare after the counting of votes on December 20. In fact, the task of dealing with poll-related complaints has already been assigned to the three-member committee of former HPCC chiefs.
