Himachal Confedential

Virbhadra’s shouting brigade

Union Minister Virbhadra Singh’s moves never go unnoticed even as a powerful lobby is working overtime to marginalise “Raja Sahib” in the state. His supporters – the party’s young Turks and NSUI activists – are in their best form at Virbhadra’s rallies or PCC meetings. Last month,NSUI gatecrashed the PCC office and created a ruckus of sorts. A strong disciplinary action ordered by PCC president Kaul Singh Thakur did not stop them from replicating scenes in a more aggressive way at Palampur in presence of AICC General secretary Birender Singh.

Courtesy beyond politics

Himachal Pradesh can really boast of some good traditions,which are also duly acknowledged by the political class. Few days back,when Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal was admitted to Shimla’s IGMC Hospital,PCC president Kaul Singh Thakur —who is also the next contender for CM’s post,made a quick visit to Dhumal. Union Minister Virbhadra Singh – Dhumal’s biggest political enemy,called on him in Delhi after he was discharged from AIIMS. Till a few days back Dhumal and Virbhadra were said to be secretly visiting “faith-healers” to invoke divine intervention against each other.

Woman power

Appointment of Anita Verma,a former MLA as All India Mahila Congress president,has really come as a surprise for Congress leaders who were not very optimistic about her political future. In fact,after Asha Kumari’s elevation as AICC secretary,Anita Verma has been maintaining a low profile and is even not sure of getting an Assembly ticket with her rivals promoting another candidate. A few have gone public claiming Congress President Sonia Gandhi was not happy with her as she had aligned with Virbhadra Singh while the winds were blowing in the other direction.