Former president of Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, 56, was not too long ago appointed the chairperson of the celebration’s state marketing campaign committee. In New Delhi to satisfy central leaders forward of the “Chintan Shivir” in Udaipur that started on Friday, Sukhu mentioned a variety of points with The Indian Express, from the elevation of former adversary Virbhadra Singh’s spouse Pratibha Singh as state Congress chief to the factionalism within the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC). Himachal Pradesh goes to polls later this yr.
Excerpts:
Normally, marketing campaign committee chairpersons are projected as chief ministerial candidates. In your case, the Congress is slightly hesitant to declare you because the CM face.
At a rally in Mandi in 2017, Rahul Gandhi declared Virbhadra Singh because the CM candidate. Had every little thing gone proper, Virbhadra would have turn out to be the CM for the seventh time. But that was to not be because the Congress didn’t win. So, asserting the CM face earlier than voting does not at all times assist. First, our MLAs need to get elected and we now have to get the required numbers. Only after that, this query must be — and might be — addressed. Secondly, it’s after 40 years that somebody apart from Virbhadra Singh has turn out to be the chairman of the marketing campaign committee. He used to carry this put up, turn out to be the CM candidate and ultimately the CM as effectively. This time, we determined to battle elections underneath collective management. Every chief has been assigned obligations. Everyone has been instructed to work exhausting and win the election. As for the CM candidate, we are going to cross that bridge after we come to it.
But aren’t you within the race to be the CM?
See, I’ve given 40 years to the celebration, from the grassroots to the marketing campaign committee. I entered scholar politics on the age of 17 years. I’ve been the longest-serving NSUI (National Students’ Union of India) state head — six years — the longest-serving Youth Congress state chief — 10 years — and the longest-serving PCC president — six years. Also, I’ve been a councillor of the Shimla Municipal Corporation for 10 years. So, what the successful MLAs and the excessive command will inform me to do, I’ll do this as a real soldier of the celebration.
Your PCC president tenure was marked by an acrimonious relationship with the then CM Virbhadra Singh.
I’m dedicated to the celebration ideology. It was all issue-based. There had been points on which I supported him and there have been points on which I opposed him.
Now that his spouse Pratibha Singh is the PCC president, will the outdated bitterness come into play?
I pay due regard to the put up of PCC president. We will battle the elections unitedly.
It is claimed that Virbhadra ensured there was no second line of management within the celebration. If he did not like a PCC president, he obtained him shifted. What made you maintain your floor towards him?
Undoubtedly, integrity, fearlessness, braveness, truthfulness, lack of greediness, and political IQ.
The concept of the current reshuffle within the PCC was floated final yr and also you had been stated to be behind it.
No. I underwent surgical procedure for a tumor within the stomach within the first week of December. I used to be in Delhi. Out of our 18 MLAs on the time, 11 got here to investigate after me. Five of them had been Virbhadra loyalists. They additionally met the excessive command and pushed my identify for an necessary function within the elections.
The BJP alleges there are too many info within the Congress.
After the demise of Virbhadra Singh, 90 per cent of the state Congress unit is united. Only 10 per cent communicate in numerous voices, which is a wholesome signal of intra-party democracy.
Will the Congress be capable of benefit from anti-incumbency towards the Jai Ram Thakur authorities?
Not solely anti-incumbency, we will even benefit from the non-performance of this authorities, their hyperlinks with the (drug and sand mining) mafias, and their failure to generate employment and comprise inflation. We will win in a giant manner.
What do you make of the AAP’s entry into Himachal Pradesh?
The Congress has protected democracy for the final 75 years. Every celebration has a proper to battle elections from wherever they wish to. If the AAP has determined to contest elections in our state, they’re most welcome to take action. But the electoral historical past of the state must be stored in thoughts. It has at all times been a contest between two events — the Congress and the BJP. There is one other important reality. Six or seven months earlier than each Assembly election, there at all times emerges a 3rd celebration or third morcha, be it the late Sukh Ram’s outfit or Maheshwar Singh’s outfit or the BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) or the LJP (Lok Janshakti Party), however with out a lot electoral achieve. So, the AAP has an extended strategy to go within the hill state. They must work exhausting.
Recently, Khalistani flags sprang up in Himachal Pradesh…
These are diversionary techniques (of the federal government). If there may be any such risk, the regulation ought to take its course.
,
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
