M A I N   N E W S

Hectic lobbying on for Himachal CM’s post
Congress Legislature Party meeting today
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 21
The aspirants for the Chief Minister’s post in Himachal Pradesh have stepped up lobbying ahead of arrival of the observers deputed by the Congress high command for holding a meeting of the newly constituted Congress Legislature Party tomorrow to elect the new leader.

While AICC Secretary Anees Ahmad has already arrived in the state capital, the two observers will reach here tomorrow. Initially, Union Minister Sushil Shinde was deputed but developments related to the law and order in Delhi have held back Shinde. In his place AICC General Secretary Janardhan Diwedi was likely to come. AICC general secretary Birender Singh Chaudhary, who is in charge of the party affairs in Himachal Pradesh, and union minister Kumari Selja will also be arriving.

After holding consultations with all the groups and important leaders, the observers are also likely to interact with the individual legislators to know their choice for the top post.

A meeting of the new Congress Legislature Party will be held in the evening. Sources said that as per the Congress tradition, the meeting the newly elected MLAs will authorise the Congress president Sonia Gandhi by passing a single line resolution. The observers will leave for Delhi immediately after the meeting and submit their report to Gandhi on Sunday. She was likely to declare the leader latest by Monday.

Meanwhile, supporters of PCC chief Virbhadra Singh have started converging on the state capital. Virbhadra had already stated that the new leader would be decided by Sonia Gandhi. The numbers are in favour of Virbhadra Singh and his supporters are confident that he would take over as Chief Minister for the sixth time.

Former PCC chief Kaul Singh, a hot contender who had gone to Chandigarh with his supporters, will also arrive tomorrow. Kaul Singh is banking on the support of Union Minister Anand Sharma and the high command.

In a related development, Virbhadra Singh met CLP Leader Vidya Stokes at her residence and discussed the post poll scenario. He was accompanied by party general secretary Harsh Mahajan and in charge of the media department Mukesh Agnihotri. She has been supporting the candidature of Virbhadra Singh but her name was also among the contenders.

Senior leader from Kangra GS Bali, a bitter rival of Virbhadra Singh, maintained that he was not in race but sources close to him said he was eying the post of deputy chief minister. Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma has all through been maintaining that he was not in the race and happy with his current assignment. However, his name was being propped up by the detractors of Virbhadra Singh to stall his installation.

Party sources maintain that the high command will take a decision keeping view the 2014 Lok Sabha poll and avoid doing anything which could undermine the electoral victory in the state which has come at a crucial time for the party.

for deputy Cm’s post

Though senior leader from Kangra GS Bali, a bitter rival of Virbhadra Singh, maintains that he was not in the race, sources close to him say that he was eying the post of Deputy Chief Minister.