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Virbhadra set to be HP Congress chief
Party tries to resolve crisis ahead of Assembly polls
Rakesh Lohumi /TNS

Rehabilitation a tough task

There are speculations that Kaul Singh, the current PCC chief, may be made leader of the Congress Legislature Party in place of Vidya Stokes. However, given the clout of Stokes in the high command and her personal relation with Sonia Gandhi the change will not be possible without accommodating her suitably.

Anand to head campaign panel

The party high command has also decided to make Union Minister Anand Sharma of the rival camp chairman of the party’s campaign committee which was headed by Virbhadra Singh.

Shimla, August 26
Curtains drew on the high drama over the change of leadership in the state today after the Congress high command decided in principle to appoint former Union Minister Virbhadra Singh as the Pradesh Congress Committee chief in place of Kaul Singh to help resolve the crisis in the party ahead of the Assembly polls.

In a balancing act, it has also decided to make Union Minister Anand Sharma of the rival camp chairman of the party’s campaign committee which was headed by Virbhadra Singh. Sources in the AICC confirmed that Kaul Singh has submitted his resignation and both Virbhadra Singh and Anand Sharma have also been sounded about the proposed changes. A formal announcement is likely to be made in a day or two.

Earlier, Anand Sharma, on returning to New Delhi from Uttarakhand, met Congress president Sonia Gandhi in this connection. According to party sources, the party high command is keen to rehabilitate Kaul Singh suitably.

There are speculations that he may be made leader of the Congress Legislature Party in place of veteran leader Vidya Stokes. However, given the clout of Stokes in the high command and her personal relation with Sonia Gandhi the change will not be possible without accommodating her suitably. According to sources she was being offered the post of Governor but she was not keen to take up the assignment.

As Vidhan Sabha session is commencing tomorrow an immediate change in the CLP leadership will not be possible. It remains to be seen what arrangement the high command finally works out. As far as the Vidhan Sabha is concerned becoming leader of the CLP will not be of any consequence for Kaul Singh as there will not be any session after the four-day monsoon session. However, it will help him become member of the screening committee and many other important party panels automatically by virtue of being the CLP leader.

Supporters of Virbhadra Singh camping in Delhi for the past almost one week have started returning. Five-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh will become president of the PCC for the fourth time.

The high command has been taking extra care to strike a factional balance while giving a major role to Virbhadra Singh to ensure that the party goes to the polls unitedly. The changes will upset the calculation of the ruling BJP which is making an all out bid to retain power in the state.