SHIMLA, DEC 4: The 10-day-long political crisis plaguing the BJP-HVC coalition government in Himachal Pradesh blew over today with Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal finally agreeing to drop controversial Public Works Minister Mohinder Singh as part of the patch-up agreement reached with the six rebels, including three ministers and three MLAs. Dropping Mohinder Singh constituted the cornerstone of the agreement.The Chief Minister announced late in the evening today that Governor Suraj Bhan had, on his advice, accepted the resignation of Mohinder Singh. Dhumal also conceded another of the rebels demand - that of sending Onkar Thakur, his OSD, on long leave. However, former chief minister and Leader of the Opposition Virbhadra Singh today wrote to the Governor Suraj Bhan demanding a special session of the state Assembly to ask Dhumal to prove his majority on the floor of the House. Virbhadra said in his letter that withdrawal of support by the three ministers and three other MLAs and prolonged stalemate thereafter had created a constitutional crisis in the state. The government has been reduced to a minority and its functioning had also come to a standstill at all levels, he wrote.Mohinder Singh had submitted his resignation to the Chief Minister four days ago after the dissidents had refused to relent on their demand for his removal due to serious charges of corruption and other irregularities levelled against the PWD during his tenure. He had not attended office since resigning. Talks between the ruling party and the dissidents continued throughout the day today and Mohinder Singh had been told that his resignation would most likely be accepted by evening. Eventually, Dhumal gave his recommendation letter to the Governor when he went to Raj Bhavan to attend a function of the Red Cross.Dhumal had with him Khushi Ram Balnatah, who spoke on behalf of the dissidents. Balnatah said the issue had been resolved amicably and all the rebels, four of whom were present with him, had endorsed the agreement. Former state BJP president and Lok Sabha member Suresh Chandel who played a vital role in resolving the crisis along with four other mediators led by legislator Jai Ram Thakur, were also present at the briefing. For the time being, Dhumal himself will hold the PWD portfolio.Replying to questions, Dhumal said some other issues raised by the rebels would also be resolved through more talks. Balnatah maintained that the MLAs and ministers who had written the letter had agreed to work together under the leadership of Dhumal. He said the dissidents had neither tried to de-stabilise the government nor asked for a change of leadership.The Chief Minister ridiculed the Congress attempts to capitalise on the crisis which, he claimed, was an internal affair of the BJP. He asked the Congress to set its own divided house in order. He, however, admitted that the party's image did suffer because of the leakage of the letter and subsequent developments. ``But we have the support and blessings of the people to cover it up,'' said a confident Dhumal.He agreed to effect changes in the party executive but only after the panchayat elections.
