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Change of guard in Himachal Congress soon

By Our Staff Correspondent

SHIMLA, NOV.25. With the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee president, Vidya Stokes' tenure coming to an end, the party high command has decided to install a new PCC president in the hill State. Though the PCC elections are due only in March next year, Ms. Stokes has conveyed her reluctance to the party High Command, preferring instead to remain as the Minister of Power in the State Cabinet.

Talking to The Hindu, Ms. Stokes said she had a very successful stint as the party president for the past four years. The party had won the State Assembly elections last year, three out of four Lok Sabha seats, and a number of local bodies' elections, including the all-important Shimla Municipal Corporation elections. She said her last wish as the PCC chief was also fulfilled when the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, came over to inaugurate the new PCC office here early this month.

The High Command, which had created a balance in the State unit by giving the control of the organisation and the Government to the two warring groups, has now decided to concede to her request. This change in the thinking of the AICC came about after the party's defeat in the Guler by- election. According to the fact- finding committee of the party, wide resentment among party workers in Kangra, one of the biggest districts of the State, was considered to be the main reason for defeat as three Ministers from there were dropped during the downsizing exercise.

According to sources, the Chief Minister's camp wants a Scheduled Caste leader to be the new PCC chief. Some Scheduled Caste leaders had been sent to the AICC to stake their claim, the sources added. However, the Stokes' group wants a Rajput to head the party so as to maintain a balance between the Government and the organisation.

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Change of guard in Himachal Congress soon

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