The contentious issue of ‘one man one post’ has again rocked the Himachal Pradesh Congress with three ministers in the Virbhadra Singh government resigning from party posts. Transport Minister G. S. Bali, Forest Minister Chander Kumar and Civil Supplies Minister Singhi Ram have put in their papers from the posts of general secretary and vice-presidentship of the party, confirmed HPCC general secretary and spokesperson Kuldeep Rathore.Though Rathore denied having any information, talk doing the rounds is that Virbhadra had shot off a letter to all ministers except Vidya Stokes, asking them to stick to the one-man-one-post norm. Besides being PCC chief, Stokes is Power Minister too. And the resignations by three ministers are a sequel to the directive. The issue has made the two leaders rush to Delhi. While Stokes left for Delhi yesterday, Virbhadra flew out this afternoon. Stokes is learnt to have met leaders, including CWC member and state incharge Ghulam Nabi Azad today.‘‘The issue is bound to come up for reference and discussion at the talks,’’ stated a party source adding that Virbhadra had no plans to go to Delhi until yesterday.Enforcement of the norm has been widening the gap between the two groups. Stokes has been eyeing any step to enforce the rule by the Virbhadra camp as aimed at her. She claims to have the backing of the high command to remain PCC chief until the Lok Sabha elections. On the other hand, Virbhadra has been trying hard to embarrass the Stokes camp over the norm the Congress has adopted as a policy decision at the national level.
