Once again, Mandi finds itself ‘epicenter ‘ of State Congress Politics

Sameer Kashyap,Mandi,
The centrally located Mandi, once again lived up as the ‘epicenter’ of congress politics after the announcement of new team much anticipated for the election mission 2012. The second time designated HPCC chief Kaul Singh is a MLA from the Drang assembly constituency of District Mandi and Union Minister Virbhadra Singh also represents Mandi Parliamentary constituency.
Inclusion of both of them in the Executive has certainly raised a new discussion in the political arena of the region as number of cases of faction violence and slogan shouting are occurring in party functions. Incidentally, the infighting in the state congress has come out apparently between Virbhadra Singh and Kaul Singh factions only.
The latest incidents of infighting is of public meeting at Nachan assembly constituency where the statement of Ram Lal Thakur created controversy. In another incident fighting took place at Dharmpur constituency resultantly Virbhadra Singh loyalist Chander Shekhar was expelled from the party by the Kaul Singh faction.
Now in these changed circumstances whether incidences of infighting will be checked out it will be seen later on. However, Congress high Command has tried to consolidate the different factions of the party in the state Committee.
The loyalists of Virbhadra Singh have been given due representation and are now dominating in the HPCC. These changes are more relevant because HPCC will play important role in the distribution of Tickets for the assembly polls of 2012 and will certainly affect the future of hot seat of Shimla.
Mandi parliamentary constituency is consisting of 17 assembly constituency and Virbhadra Singh have good influence in whole of the state including Mandi. Therefore the congress politics have once again focused upon Mandi. Undoubtedly, the experience and influence of Virbhadra Singh’s will benefit the party in future particularly in the Mandi Parliamentary Constituency
On the other hand the leaders of Bhartiya Janta Party have also got alarmed with the predominant inclusion of Virbhadra Singh faction in the HPCC.
HPCC chief Kaul Singh welcomed and thanked the high command for deposing faith and designating him as chief again. He said that we will throw out ruling Bhartiya Janta Party by collectively working in a team spirit.