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Consensus again eludes Himachal Congress

Seven party members suspended

SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee on Tuesday suspended seven party members from Una district for taking party matters to court.

The State party unit president, Kuldeep Kumar, suspended the seven after the Pradesh Returning Officer (PRO) and chairman of the State Election Authority, K. C. Lenka, recommended action against them.

The suspended workers had moved the court in connection with the ongoing organisational elections, whereas the Congress constitution specifies that matters regarding the party should not be taken to court.

The suspended members include Des Raj Gautam, Joginder Singh, Atma Ram, Pritam Singh, Gurdev Singh, Mohammed Rahim and Khair Deen Bakshi.

The seven have been asked to explain their conduct with in a week failing which they will stand expelled from the party for six years.

Kanwar Yogendra adds:

Due to differences in the State party, the elections to the Pradesh Congress Committee were postponed again on Tuesday. The members present at the meeting again authorised the High Command to select a person to head the party in the Hill State. The Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh, whose faction had won the maximum number of District Congress Committee elections, moved a one- line resolution asking the High Command to nominate the new State party chief It was seconded by the other faction, led by the State Power Minister, Vidya Stokes, and other senior leaders like Gian Chand Totu, Sat Mahajan and Krishen Dutt Sultanpuri.

DCC Presidents, PCC nominees and delegates were present at the meeting held in the State party office on The Mall.

A number of Congress supporters were expecting a consensus in favour of. Kuldip Kumar, a staunch Virbhadra loyalist, as the PCC chief. The other camp heaved a sigh of relief with the scene shifting to Delhi. Mr. Kumar, State Industries Minister, it is learnt, is reluctant to leave the Ministry. The Vidya Stokes faction is supporting Major Vijay Singh Mankotia for the top party post

Some leaders however favoured a secret ballot. "If a secret ballot was conducted the myth of majority as claimed by CM's supporters would have been exposed", said a Vidya loyalist.

With the scene shifting to Delhi, all senior leaders have left for the national Capital to canvass for their respective candidates.

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Consensus again eludes Himachal Congress

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