Reconstitution of state Cong committee an uphill task

The Congress high command has initiated an ambitious exercise to restructure the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), relying partially on recommendations of 12 observers assigned to assess 12 districts.

These observers face a complex task: balancing merit, seniority, activeness, caste equations and regional balance. However, this could result in a “jumbo-sized” committee, a feature that critics argue reflects the party’s tendency to accommodate disgruntled leaders and loyalists of factional stalwarts. The process appears poised to reflect more of the same — adjustments that serve vested interests rather than organisational merit.

The reconstitution of the state executive committee was long overdue. Recently, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge dissolved the state executive, district and block units following a request from state president Pratibha Singh and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. While the final recommendations will ostensibly reflect unanimity between Singh and Sukhu, the possibility of non-deserving candidates finding their way into the new structure cannot be ruled out.

Rajiv Shukla, AICC in charge of Himachal Pradesh, has been maintaining that appointing observers will counter long-standing allegations that decisions are dictated solely by Delhi. State party president Pratibha Singh shares this optimism and denies any significant discord between the party and government apparatus. Observers face the litmus test of providing honest feedback about the disconnect between the ruling party and the state government.

One of the stated goals of this exercise is to enforce the principle of “One Man, One Post.” If implemented in letter and spirit, this could pave the way for younger leaders and infuse fresh energy into the party’s operations. However, given the entrenched resistance to such reforms, this principle risks becoming yet another hollow promise.

Political analysts contend that the Congress high command must move beyond its decades-old tradition of accommodating factional loyalists. This defective system has historically sidelined deserving leaders with mass appeal, perpetuating cronyism and dynastic dominance. The lobbying culture and the influence of Delhi power brokers have further increased these practices, stifling the party’s ability to evolve. The final battle for prized posts is expected to play out in Delhi, where having the “right connections” with central leaders often trumps merit. Observers predict a likely tussle among Himachal’s senior leaders, each vying to secure favourable outcome for their loyalists. Any attempt to streamline the state executive — currently an unwieldy 450 members — will likely face stiff resistance, reflecting the absurdity of the existing set-up.

— The writer is a political analyst and columnist based in Shimla