The Hindu : New Delhi News : Mankotia may head Himachal Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 04, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Mankotia may head Himachal Congress

By Our Staff Correspondent

SHIMLA, OCT.3. The disgruntled senior Congress leader, Vijay Singh Mankotia, who was thrown out of the Cabinet recently, has given his consent to become the State party chief, according to sources. The sources said that the Congress High Command has made up its mind to make him the new PCC Chief. The PCC chief, Vidya Stokes, has also given her approval to the proposal, they said. But a group, including some MLAs from Kangra, is opposing the move saying, "It would be a straight challenge to the unquestioned leadership of Virbhadra Singh".

The Central Congress leadership at the time of Government- formation had allowed Mrs. Stokes to continue as the PCC Chief. Mr. Virbhadra Singh was made the Chief Minister despite strong protests from the groups led by Mrs. Stokes and Maj Mankotia. All the Stokes supporters were adjusted in the Cabinet which further angered the followers of the Chief Minister. They had launched a campaign of "one man one post". Now the High Command has made up its mind to settle the issue.

Even supporters of Major Mankotia were insisting that he should be re-inducted into the Cabinet. However, the reluctance of the Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh, who sees him as a potential threat, is keeping him out of the Cabinet. Also some Ministers and MLAs close to Mr.Singh had openly criticised Maj. Mankotia for indulging in anti-party activities. Upset over the criticism, Maj. Mankotia warned them to withdraw the statement. He is even planning to meet the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, tomorrow to tell her about the discrimination meted out to his home district, Kangra.

Maj.Mankotia's stand on the disparity between the income levels of old and new Himachal and political discrimination against Kangra had landed the party high and dry. It is becoming increasingly difficult for the Chief Minister to defend his decisions of dropping four Ministers from the State Cabinet in just one stroke.

The people of Kangra are angry over the political prejudice which could be reflected in the bye elections to Guler seat, say supporters of Maj Mankotia.

The State BJP, having a majority of leaders from this belt, is making the best use of the observations made by Maj. Mankotia. The former Chief Minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal, is convincingly talking of this regional bias in his campaign speeches.

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