After conquering the fort of Punjab, the spirits of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are high. Although the party could not even open its account in the Uttarakhand elections, but has started preparations for the Himachal Pradesh assembly elections. The entry of ‘AAP’ in the politics of Himachal Pradesh has deepened the clouds of wrinkle on the forehead of the Congress party. The party leadership is worried that the AAP may take away the young faces of the Congress.
Recently, this fear of the Congress party has increased after former Himachal Pradesh Youth Congress President Manish Thakur joined AAP along with his supporters. There are rumors that more young Congress leaders may soon leave the Congress. State in-charge of Youth Congress and NSUI Sandeep Kumar has sought time to meet Rahul Gandhi. Sandeep Kumar has been working with the party for the last 36 years. However, he denied the claims that he was joining the Aam Aadmi Party.
Several other state Congress leaders are reportedly not happy with the inner workings of the party organization and have demanded a reform to stop the exodus of youth leaders of the party. “I have no plans to join any other party, but we want a reform before the election campaign. I have sought time from Rahul Gandhi to discuss the challenges,” Sandeep Kumar told India Today.
21 leaders met Sonia Gandhi
A total of 21 Himachal Congress leaders, including Himachal PCC Chief Kuldeep Rathore, Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri and others, met party President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Tuesday. According to party sources, the meeting lasted for one and a half hours.
Apart from requesting for a change in the state party organisation, the state leadership has also demanded an early decision on the formation of various election committees. Though the Congress under the leadership of current PCC chief Kuldeep Rathore won four by-polls, some leaders have demanded a new HPCC chief. Apart from three working presidents of the party, there is also a demand to appoint a deputy leader of opposition.
Congress failed to find an alternative to Virbhadra Singh
The Congress in Himachal Pradesh is really struggling to find a leader with mass appeal after the death of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. The leaders who met Sonia Gandhi are also believed to have requested her to devise a strategy to deal with the possible ‘AAP’ threat.
Sources close to the Congress said a decision on the radical changes in state party organizations besides election committees could be announced within a week. The Congress leadership is also in no mood to take any risk after the party’s humiliating defeat in the neighboring state of Punjab. Sources said the party leadership is also not in favor of announcing the chief ministerial candidate and asked state leaders to present a united face to tackle the AAP’s challenge.
Preparations for Shimla Municipal Corporation elections intensified
The party leadership has asked the state Congress leaders to be prepared for the Shimla Municipal Corporation elections to be held next month. It is believed that the Aam Aadmi Party may also contest Shimla MC elections to enter the active politics of the state.
Are you looking for a new face?
Sources close to the Himachal Congress said that several Congress leaders are in touch with the ‘AAP’ high command and are seeking time to meet Arvind Kejriwal. Kejriwal is believed to have told the leaders that he wanted a commoner and a local person to join the party. There is speculation that the Congress leader, among others, may join the AAP during Arvind Kejriwal’s first state visit to Mandi on April 6.