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.
Sharp Criticism of Rohru Event Management
Without 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.
Disappointment Over Worker Inaction and Factionalism
Pratibha 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.
Highlighting 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.
Virbhadra Singh's Long Electoral Bond With Rohru
The 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.
Underlying Rivalry Between Sukhu and the Virbhadra Camp
The 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.
