{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Pratibha Singh Slams CM Sukhu Over Exclusion of Virbhadra Singh in Rohru Event Posters",
  "summary": "Former PCC chief Pratibha Singh criticized the omission of late Virbhadra Singh from posters during CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's Rohru visit, calling it narrow-minded.",
  "content": "Internal friction within the Himachal Pradesh Congress has resurfaced following Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's recent tour of Upper Shimla. The complete absence of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh from official banners and event posters has sparked intense resentment. Pratibha Singh, former state unit chief and mother of cabinet minister Vikramaditya Singh, voiced strong objections over the exclusion, pointing out that the towering leader's immense contributions were entirely overlooked during the events held in Rohru.\n\nSharp Criticism of Rohru Event Management\nWithout explicitly naming Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Pratibha Singh directed sharp criticism at the organisers of the tour, remarking that the neglect reflected a rather narrow mentality. Speaking on Tuesday, October 6, she stressed that it has not been long since Virbhadra Singh passed away, making it deeply unfortunate that he could be erased so quickly from public memory in a region like Rohru. She emphasized that failing to even acknowledge a stalwart of Virbhadra Singh's stature should prompt everyone to reflect on the ongoing political culture in the area.\n\n \n\nDisappointment Over Worker Inaction and Factionalism\nPratibha Singh did not spare the local office-bearers and party cadres present at the gathering. She questioned why local supporters failed to step forward voluntarily to put up posters honouring the late leader. Pointing out that one cannot place blame elsewhere when internal cadre remains indifferent, she noted that someone could easily have taken the initiative to display twenty banners independently. Drawing attention to the association of NSUI president Manish Thakur, she reiterated that the core Congress ethos never endorsed factional division or alienation among colleagues.\n\nHighlighting her own political conduct, Pratibha Singh recalled that whenever she visited Nahan or Sirmaur, she consistently invoked the legacy of Yashwant Singh Parmar during meetings. She remarked that paying tribute to founding leaders is a shared duty, making the prevailing apathy in Rohru all the more disheartening.\n\nVirbhadra Singh's Long Electoral Bond With Rohru\nThe controversy holds heightened significance given Rohru's history as an unassailable bastion for the late leader. Virbhadra Singh served as the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh six times. Between 1990 and 2007, he contested the Rohru assembly constituency in consecutive elections, securing victory in each outing. Given this decades-long association, the total omission of his name and imagery during an official visit generated widespread dismay among his loyalists.\n\nUnderlying Rivalry Between Sukhu and the Virbhadra Camp\nThe friction underscores a protracted rivalry between Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and the camp loyal to Virbhadra Singh. In 2012, when Sukhu was appointed the president of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee, Virbhadra Singh openly opposed his leadership. Over the years, policy disputes and political disagreements between the two leaders repeatedly played out across public platforms. The latest episode in Rohru demonstrates that factional strains within the ruling dispensation continue to simmer beneath the surface.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThis political controversy highlights the persistent factional friction within Himachal Pradesh's ruling party structure.\n\n• In Himachal Pradesh: Simmering tensions between party factions can impact bureaucratic coordination and the smooth delivery of public development projects. Heightened internal friction risks lowering morale among grassroots party cadres across the state.\n• In Rohru and Shimla regions: Lingering resentment among loyalists of the former chief minister could weaken organizational cohesion during future regional events. Competitive displays of local strength between the two camps may intensify during upcoming public outreach drives.\n• For party workers: The overt friction leaves grassroots volunteers caught in an awkward position between competing power centres. Navigating loyalties across divisional lines could complicate day-to-day organizational activities at the block level.\n• Across state governance: Balancing ministerial equations while keeping the organization aligned poses a continuous political test for the state leadership. Any further escalation in public sparring may invite scrutiny or mediation from central party leaders.\n\nWhy this happened\nThe dispute was triggered when publicity banners for Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's tour in Rohru completely omitted former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. Decades of entrenched factional competition provided the backdrop to this clash.\n\n• Exclusion from event banners: Promotional banners across Rohru failed to include photographs or mentions of six-time chief minister Virbhadra Singh during the official tour. This visible omission was interpreted as a deliberate slight by his family and loyalist base.\n• Significance of the Rohru constituency: Rohru served as Virbhadra Singh's core political stronghold, electing him continuously to the state assembly from 1990 through 2007. Facing an institutional snub in his long-time seat prompted former PCC chief Pratibha Singh to voice public disapproval.\n• Longstanding political rivalry: Historical friction between Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Virbhadra Singh traces back to 2012 when Sukhu became state party president despite opposition from the former chief minister. The two camps have repeatedly clashed over organizational command and public representation.\n• Inaction among local cadre: Pratibha Singh specifically lamented that local party office-bearers and youth wing workers failed to display initiative by putting up commemorative banners on their own.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. Why did Pratibha Singh express anger regarding the Rohru event?\nShe objected to the exclusion of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's photograph and legacy from banners during Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's visit.\n\n2. How did Pratibha Singh describe the omission?\nShe termed it an example of narrow thinking, noting that forgetting a stalwart like Virbhadra Singh so quickly in Rohru was deeply unfortunate.\n\n3. What was Virbhadra Singh's electoral connection with Rohru?\nVirbhadra Singh was a six-time chief minister who contested and won assembly elections from Rohru continuously between 1990 and 2007.\n\n4. What was the background of past friction between Sukhu and Virbhadra Singh?\nWhen Sukhu was made state Congress chief in 2012, Virbhadra Singh opposed the decision, leading to recurrent public friction between their respective camps.\n\n5. Why did Pratibha Singh reference Yashwant Singh Parmar?\nShe cited her own practice of honouring Himachal's first chief minister during visits to Nahan and Sirmaur to emphasize the duty of respecting senior leaders.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/himachal-pradesh/roharu-men-virbhadra-singh-ke-postara-na-lagane-para-bharakin-pratibha-singh-cm-sukhu-ke-karyakrama-para-uthae-tikhe-savala-43949",
  "category": "Himachal Pradesh",
  "publishedAt": "2026-10-06",
  "tags": [
    "Pratibha Singh",
    "Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu",
    "Virbhadra Singh",
    "Himachal Pradesh Congress",
    "Rohru",
    "Vikramaditya Singh"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}