Detractors reach Delhi,Virbhadra changes stance on CM chair

After his detractors,including PCC president Kaul Singh Thakur and others,took their battle to the Congress High Command in Delhi,Union Minister for Micro,Small and Medium Enterprises Virbhadra Singh on Thursday changed his stance on the chief ministerial job and asserted that his rallies in Himachal Pradesh were only aimed at strengthening the party.

Addressing another rally at Palampur – where Union Minister Anand Sharma had addressed a party rally three days ago – Virbhadra Singh sought to dispel the impression that his drive in Himachal Pradesh was part of efforts for the chief minister’s chair. “ I have taken a resolve to ensure that the corrupt BJP government headed by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal does not return to power again. The rallies are not to put forward my claim as the next chief minister but to strengthen the party in Himachal and further cement the long association it has with people of the state”,Virbhadra said.

He rejected Dhumal’s allegations that the Centre was discriminating against Himachal Pradesh and termed the chief minster’s claims as a white lie and quoted from a CAG report,which Virbhadra said,clearly stated that Himachal had failed to utilise central funds.

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Later addressing the media,Virbhadra said his efforts to bring the people and party closer in the state will continue and asserted that he would not abandon his ‘parivartan rallies’,even if some leaders were opposed to it.

On the defamation notice he had sent to Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal,the union minister said that he was yet to receive a reply and added that if he does not receive one soon,he would go ahead and file the defamation case against Kejriwal.