Controversies surrounding the Congresss organisational polls in Himachal Pradesh have put to test skills of party strategists who are busy chalking out formulae to pacify the warring factions even as elections to seven most sensitive constituences are yet to be held. As no formula could be worked out,election of block Congress committee presidents and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates has been stayed for the time being in three constituencies Suleh,Kangra and Kutlehar. Following this,former Suleh MLA Jagjiwan Pal,who had gone on a fast-unto-death at the party headquarters in Shimla on Tuesday,withdrew his protest. All eyes are now set on the meeting between party leaders and the assistant returning officer of the centre,called by returning officer Rajni Patil at Shimla. In another development,the Anand Sharma faction in Shimla Urban unit put up a united face on Wednesday. This was possible after the group backing Pradeep Singh Bhujja,the newly elected Shimla Urban president,and the section backed by Harbhajan Singh Bhajji,former MLA,struck a deal to equally distribute power. Bhajji finally supported Anand Kaushal,the incumbent Shimla Urban unit president,who was announced the PCC delegate from Shimla after Union Minister Anand Sharma decided not to accept the post on Tuesday. Bhajji told the media: There is no controversy now. After Anand Sharma announced not to accept the post of PCC delegate,he had authorised me to name someone else for the job and we have amicably selected Anand Kaushal. There are no factions in the Shimla unit and all members are supporters of Anand Sharma. He was accompanied by Bhajji and Kaushal. Meanwhile,polls in the seven most sensitive constituencies are yet to be held even though July 21 is the deadline for the same. It was after much nerve wrecking exercise that assistant returning officers for Dehra,Jwalamukhi,Jaisinghpur,Kangra,Kullu,Jogindernagar and Rohru could be appointed late on Tuesday. The list includes H K Chand Saini,Sanjeev Kuthiala,Munish Thakur,Madan Chaudhary,Kanta Negi,Sudhir Azaad and Satish Bittu respectively,for the seven constituencies. The issues of election complaints in Arki,Paonta and Kasauli are still pending. The complaint from Rampur was heard on Wednesday and a decision was taken to elect candidates amicably and not by election. Former cabinet minister Singhi Ram was also heard and it was decided to accommodate him and his supporters in the elections. In Gangath,where Manmohan Katoch has been elected PCC delegate,voices of dissent are aloud and the anti-Virbhadra Singh faction has represented to Patil to accommodate the other groups.
