Cong emissaries meet Sukh Ram

Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 29 — Ripples have been created in the political scene of Himachal Pradesh with two emissaries of the opposition Congress party reportedly meeting the HVC chief, Mr Sukh Ram, with whose support the BJP government in the state is surviving.

There were reports that two Congress leaders — Mr Chander Kumar and Mr G. S. Bali — were closeted with Mr Sukh Ram for about an hour at his residence here recently.

What transpired between them was not known but significance was being attached to the meeting in view of the near denial of the BJP to offer the Baijnath Assembly seat to the HVC.

Both these Congress leaders, who are sitting MLAs, are considered close to the CLP leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh. Mr Virbhadra Singh, however, has said he is not aware of any such meeting and neither these two partymen carried any brief from him.

Mr Virbhadra Singh was reportedly being pressurised by a section of the party to sink his differences with Mr Sukh Ram and join hands with him as there was no other alternative to recapture power in view of the hung assembly. Similarly, there were reports that the senior HVC leadership was not feeling at home in the BJP set-up.

A section of the Congress leadership has been pleading that if the BJP, which had criticised Mr Sukh Ram earlier, could claim his support it should not be a difficult task for the Congress to get his help.

Mr Sukh Ram had, however, recently said there were no differences between him and the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, and the alliance would continue.

None of the political parties had so far been able to select its candidate for the byelection to the Baijnath seat as a virtual deadlock is in force between the BJP and the HVC, both of which are staking claim for contesting the seat.

The picture is expected to become clear on November 1, when the HVC leaders are scheduled to meet here to discuss the issue.

The HVC leadership is keen the BJP should "sacrifice" the Baijnath seat apparently because it does not want the latter to get a majority of its own in the assembly and then treat the HVC as an unwanted partner.