Political Turmoil in Himachal Pradesh: Allegations of Conspiracy Against Deputy CM

Political Allegations in Himachal Pradesh

Shimla: Recent claims by Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh have stirred the political waters in Himachal Pradesh, alleging a conspiracy aimed at Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri. Singh made these assertions through a Facebook post, which has heightened ongoing discussions about factionalism within the ruling Congress party.

The controversy began with a cryptic social media message from Deputy CM Agnihotri, who remarked, “Saajishon ka daur… jhoot ke paavn nahin hote” (“An era of conspiracies… lies can’t last long”). Although the post lacked detailed context, it has been widely interpreted as a nod to the internal dynamics of the party. This message coincided with Agnihotri's attendance at a Congress Working Committee meeting in New Delhi with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Pradesh Congress Committee President Pratibha Singh.

In response, Vikramaditya Singh, the son of the late six-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, suggested that Agnihotri is being targeted by a calculated effort to weaken him. His remarks have fueled conversations about rival factions within the Himachal Pradesh Congress, particularly between supporters of CM Sukhu and those loyal to Virbhadra Singh's legacy.

Further complicating matters, a private meeting between Agnihotri and Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh in Una has sparked speculation about a potential reshuffle in the state Congress leadership. There are rumors that Anirudh Singh could be in line to replace Pratibha Singh as the state Congress president.

The Himachal Pradesh Congress has been functioning without district and block-level leadership for almost six months, raising alarms about organizational stagnation and a disconnect from grassroots supporters. Senior party members, including Cabinet Minister Chander Kumar, have openly criticized the state unit's lack of direction.

In a related note, Vikramaditya Singh had previously resigned from the Cabinet, expressing feelings of humiliation and marginalization within the party. However, he later withdrew his resignation after intervention from the Congress central leadership, which is actively working to resolve internal conflicts and preserve party unity.

As the Congress party grapples with these internal issues, the upcoming weeks will be crucial in shaping the stability and unity of its leadership in Himachal Pradesh.

Sunil Chadha