Within a day of Congress securing a majority in Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, tensions started boiling over the Chief Ministerial candidate. While a high level team, representing the Congress high command hold series of meetings, the cracks in the Himachal Congress widened all through the day with demands and counter-demands.
Supporters of Pratibha Singh gathered outside the Congress Shimla headquarters in huge numbers and demanded her appointment as the Chief Minister of the state. A supporter said that if she is not appointed the chief minister, it will be a “huge mistake” on the high command’s part.
“If Congress has been able to get 40 seats in the state, it is because of the leadership of Rani Pratibha Singh. The post of Chief Minister should only go to someone from the family of Virbhadra Singh. If it doesn’t happen, then it will be a huge mistake on the party of party high command,” she said.
Another supported claimed that if Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu would have been the state chief, Congress would have got only “15-16 seats”.
“The royal family has developed the whole state.
It has connection throughout the state. Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu would have been the state chief, Congress would have just got 15-16 seats.
We have got this victory only under the leadership of Rani Sahiba, and we appeal to the high command to make her the CM,” he said.
Slogans like “Apni mukhyamantri kaisi ho…Rani Sahiba jaisi ho” (Our CM should be like Rani Sahiba) and “1…2…3…4…Holy Lodge saatvi baar” (We want a CM from the ‘Holy Lodge’ for the seventh time) echoed outside the Congress headquarters in Shimla, as the supporters showcased their support for the wife of Former Congress CM.
One of the
supporters said, “Congress has won the elections under her leadership, and she should get her due credit.” “We want to see ‘Rani Sahiba’ as the Chief Minister, as only she can work in the best interest of the state,” another supporter said.
Amid the debate surrounding the chief minister for Himachal Pradesh, the Congress held a meeting with the party’s observer Bhupesh Baghel, state in-charge Rajeev Shukla, probable CM Pratibha Singh, and all the elected MLAs, at its Shimla headquarters.
The meeting also comprised the party’s state co-in charge Gurkirat Singh Kotli, former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Congress leaders Sanjay Dutt and Tajinder.