The internal discord within Himachal Pradesh's ruling Congress party spilled into the open once again as Neeraj Bharti, the expelled former legislator from Jawali, launched an unsparing attack on the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led administration. Speaking at a public gathering organized in Rampur Sarahan in Shimla district for the unveiling of a statue dedicated to the late veteran stalwart Virbhadra Singh, Bharti declared that he refuses to engage in sycophancy for personal benefit. He raised pointed questions regarding the administrative neglect faced by grassroot party workers and criticized the regime for failing to honor those who laid the foundation for the party's return to power.
Neglect of Grassroots Cadre and Rejection of Sycophancy
Neeraj Bharti, whose father Chander Kumar serves as a cabinet minister in the Sukhu government, emphasized that his political agenda has consistently prioritized the welfare and dignity of party workers. He contended that when the government fails to address the legitimate grievances of ordinary cadres, praising the leadership merely to safeguard personal interests cannot be justified. Bharti asserted that he has never practiced the politics of subservience, noting that he could easily have secured personal favors by frequenting the residences of influential leaders. Instead, he made a conscious decision to champion the rights of workers who toiled endlessly to build the party's foundation.
Suffering Under Previous Regime and Dashed Expectations
Highlighting the historical context of his constituency, Bharti pointed out that grassroots Congress workers in Jawali endured immense hostility during the five-year tenure of the previous Bharatiya Janata Party administration. Across that demanding period, loyalists stood firm against administrative pressure, anchored by the conviction that a political transition would bring relief, respect, and responsive governance. They had hoped that once the Congress formed the government, their long-standing local grievances would be resolved swiftly.
However, Bharti noted with regret that these high hopes were completely dismantled after the change of guard in the state. Rather than experiencing empowerment, cadres found their voices marginalized within the administrative setup. The former MLA clarified that rather than issuing generalized pronouncements about the entire state, his primary objective was to speak up for the aggrieved workers of his own constituency. He firmly stated that when the very individuals who carried the party on their shoulders are ignored, standing on public platforms to shower unearned praise upon the government or its representatives becomes an act of dishonesty.
Defiance Over Show-Cause Notice and Expulsion
Addressing the disciplinary proceedings initiated against him, which included a show-cause notice followed by expulsion from the party, Bharti reiterated his indifference to such administrative measures. He recalled that upon learning of the show-cause notice, he had made it abundantly clear that he felt no necessity to defend his conduct. His stand was grounded in the principle that his defiance was not driven by selfish aspirations or personal vendettas, but rather by an unyielding obligation to the workers. Consequently, disciplinary orders and party penalties could not deter him from voicing their discontent.
The Legacy of Virbhadra Singh and Poster Politics
Bharti also took direct aim at the alleged sidelining of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, responding to queries regarding the deliberate omission of the late leader's photographs from official tour hoardings and the reluctance of state leaders to invoke his name on public stages. He remarked that while an administration can easily excise an individual's portrait from a promotional banner, it cannot erase his indelible memory and monumental contributions from the hearts of the public. He stressed that Virbhadra Singh had the privilege of steering the hill state for decades, guiding it through critical phases of modernization.
Listing regions across the state, including Kinnaur, Bilaspur, Kangra, Jawali, Nagrota, Hamirpur, and Una, Bharti stressed that Virbhadra Singh had ensured balanced development across every district without regional prejudice. Known widely as the architect of modern Himachal Pradesh and the champion of development, Virbhadra Singh's stature transcended mundane publicity materials, Bharti argued. He characterized the hesitation to acknowledge the veteran leader from public rostrums as a reflection of narrow-minded politics, concluding that refusing to mention an iconic figure does not diminish his historical importance.
Escalating Digital Clashes and Government Rift
The latest broadside represents a continuation of Bharti's protracted public confrontations with Chief Minister Sukhu. In recent months, he had utilized his personal Facebook handle to mount relentless attacks against the functioning of the state government and the Chief Minister's decisions. The friction intensified to the point where his social media account was officially suspended under legal processes. During those verbal broadsides, Bharti had even asserted that his father would tender his resignation from the state cabinet. His remarks at Rampur Sarahan confirm that administrative disciplinary actions have done little to cool the fierce political conflict brewing within the state's ruling apparatus.
