Himachal CM comes to the rescue of rival Shanta Kumar

Union Food minister Shanta Kumar, apparently facing party punishment for his public criticism of the VHP over Gujarat, has found an unlikely...

Union Food minister Shanta Kumar, apparently facing party punishment for his public criticism of the VHP over Gujarat, has found an unlikely ally in Himachal Pradesh Chief Ministry P.K. Dhumal.

Kumar’s arch rival is said to be lobbying for his survival. Sources close to Dhumal said he met the Prime Minister and BJP chief Jana Krishnamurthy last week and pleaded with them not to ‘‘punish’’ the only Union minister from Himachal.

Dhumal is close to the PM and wields considerable clout in the party. So his supporters believe Kumar may yet survive in the Cabinet. Reports of Kumar’s sacking have been doing the rounds despite his public apologies to both Krishnamurthy and the VHP leadership.

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According to sources, there is no love lost between Dhumal and Kumar. They remain political foes and the Himachal BJP is as always polarised between the two. Yet Dhumal, sources said, has come to Kumar’s rescue for his own good.

Dhumal now perceives Kumar as a ‘‘politically weakened rival’’ who is no longer a threat to his leadership.

And if Kumar is replaced, sources said, with younger leaders whose names have cropped up, Dhumal fears they would try to emerge as alternative political centres on the eve of elections, scheduled for next year.

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