M A I N   N E W S

HVC expels minister, breaks up
From Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, April 25 — The two-month-long drama in the Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) today culminated in a split, with the rival factions claiming majority support.

The supporters of the party supremo, Mr Sukh Ram, and the PWD Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh, held parallel meetings at the residence of the former. The meeting of the state executive of the party presided over by Mr Sukh Ram unanimously expelled Mr Mohinder Singh from the party for six years and demanded his removal from the ministry. On the other hand, the supporters of Mr Mohinder Singh, who were denied entry into the meeting, held a parallel meeting outside, in which a new team of office-bearers was nominated.

Mr Sukh Ram was replaced by Mr Inder Singh as party president and made chief patron of the party.

The Mohinder Singh faction claimed that the present state executive of the party had no legal authority as its term, which expired on July 6, 1999, had not been extended. He claimed that the meeting was attended by 32 out a total of 43 delegates. Mr O.P. Rattan, the spokesperson for the new outfit, said despite best efforts the split could not be averted due to the ‘negative’ role of the ‘coterie’ surrounding Mr Sukh Ram. He said the new party would continue the alliance with the BJP.

Both factions have decided to approach the Election Commission to claim the party symbol. Mr Sukh Ram claimed the support of 57 out of the 58 delegates. He said only six delegates and an equal number of special invitees had defected. The rest were with him.

Interestingly, both factions pledged their support to the Dhumal government and asserted that the alliance would continue. Mr Sukh Ram has already sent fax messages to the Prime Minister, Mr A.B. Vajpayee, Mr L.K. Advani and other senior BJP leaders, informing them of the decision and demanding removal of Mr Mohinder Singh from the Cabinet.

The rival faction has, however, not put forward any demand to drop Mr Ram Lal Markandey, the lone minister of the Sukh Ram group in the ministry.

Mr Anil Sharma and Mr Ram Lal Markandey, the Rural Development Minister, were among those present at the conference addressed by Mr Sukh Ram. While Mr Mildi, who was made vice-president in the splinter body, said that his presence indicated that he was with Mr Sukh Ram, the rival faction claimed that he was stopped from coming out of the house by the supporters of Mr Sukh Ram.

Mr Sukh Ram expressed the hope that Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, would drop Mr Mohinder Singh, from the Council of Ministers as he was there as a representative of the HVC. Failure to do so would send the wrong signal that the Chief Minister had a hand in splitting the party. He said the Central leadership of the BJP was in the know of the political developments in the state and it would ensure that an appropriate action was taken in the matter. The HVC was a member of the NDA and he had full faith in Mr Vajpayee, who was a “fair and just” person and knew how to treat an alliance partner.

He also declared that no power on earth could get his decision changed except Mr Vajpayee. He had great respect for him. He resigned from the Cabinet on his direction and also left the Solan assembly seat for the BJP, despite a strong claim and a winning candidate, only at his intervention.

The HVC supremo disclosed that last year, the Chief Minister wanted to strip Mr Mohinder Singh of the PWD portfolio in view of complaints against him, but he intervened and urged him not to do so as he was doing well. He also advised Mr Mohinder Singh to be careful in future but instead of listening to his advice, he tried to get closer to the Chief Minister and started indulging in ‘anti-party’ activities.

He claimed the split, though unfortunate was not a setback to the party, which would emerge stronger after the crisis. He would soon undertake a tour of the state to console the party workers at the grassroots.

The split in the HVC has given a new turn to the already fluid political situation in the state with Mr Dhumal camping in Delhi to consult the high command for reconstituting his ministry. He has now a ticklish job at hand on whether or not to drop Mr Mohinder Singh, who has been his close confidant.