New Delhi, January 29
Weighing its options for the Lok Sabha elections, the Himachal Vikas Congress has started talking to the Congress about the possibilities of a tie-up.
The HVC, which had contested the last parliamentary election in alliance with the BJP and continues to be part of the NDA, seems to be inching closer towards the Congress now.
The HVC chief Sukh Ram along with his son and party MP Anil Sharma met Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here today to discuss the possibility of the two parties reaching an understanding for the Lok Sabha polls. Sources said the meeting was “exploratory.”
The two leaders along with party MP Dhani Ram Shandil had come for a meeting with Mr Singh yesterday but the meeting could not take place as Mr Singh was away.
Mr Shandil is the lone HVC member in the Lok Sabha, while Mr Anil Sharma is the party MP in the Rajya Sabha. The term of Mr Sharma comes to an end in a few months and discussions on a tie-up will also factor in the Rajya Sabha seat falling vacant. The HVC leaders have called a meeting of party workers on February 6 in Mandi to take a view about the tie-up.
Sources said there was no unanimity in the Congress over an alliance with the HVC. Mr Virbhadra Singh had stoutly opposed tie-up with the HVC in the last year’s assembly polls despite a section of the party then favouring such an arrangement. However, the party can take a different view for the Lok Sabha elections.
With the Congress central leadership adopting a flexible attitude on the question of alliances for the Lok Sabha poll, the Congress leaders in the state are looking at a strategy where they can win all four seats.
“Since the BJP-HVC had won all the four seats when they were in power, we would like to do equally well now that the state has a Congress government,’’ a senior party leader said. He said that the coming Lok Sabha polls were significant for party president Sonia Gandhi and the state unit will select the best possible candidate on all seats.
Mr Virbhadra Singh, who met Ms Gandhi yesterday, today discussed the party’s preparations for the Lok Sabha polls with former
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who is now incharge of Himachal Pradesh. Several ministers are also in the capital to meet Mr Gehlot.
