Stokes elected CLP leader

Former Power Minister and senior MLA Vidya Stokes on Thursday was elected as leader of the Congress Legislature Party...

Former Power Minister and senior MLA Vidya Stokes on Thursday was elected as leader of the Congress Legislature Party CLP in Himachal Pradesh, with the party high command throwing its weight behind her. In a significant development, Viplove Thakur resigned from the post of Pradesh Congress Committee PCC president as a sequel to the party8217;s defeat in the Assembly elections.

Stokes8217; election to the CLP post came on the expected lines after the high command supported her, sidelining former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in spite of the fact that 19 out of 23 newly elected MLAs stood by him. Two central leaders 8212; who met all the MLAs individually on Thursday and had a long conversation with Virbhadra Singh 8212; made it clear that the party8217;s writ will prevail. They refused to go for a contest or accept any other name for the post, sources said.

Former minister Kaul Singh Thakur, who was carrying with him signatures of 17 MLAs, excluding those of Virbhadra Singh and himself, did not press his claim against Stokes. Virbhadra assured his support, though he did not look happy with the development. 8220;All MLAs will extend cooperation to the CLP leader,8221; he said.

Known for her proximity to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Stokes was a contender for the post of chief minister in 2003. However, it was Virbhadra, who had the numbers in his favour and eventually became the Chief Minister. Stokes was inducted as the senior-most cabinet minister in his government.

Stokes, who became the CLP leader for the second time, will be Leader of Opposition in the 68-member House that will begin its first session at Dharamsala on Friday. Earlier, she had headed the CLP in 1990 when Shanta Kumar was the Chief Minister.

Regarding Stokes8217;s election, party8217;s in charge for Himachal R K Dhawan said, 8220;Since Virbhadra had already withdrawn his name from the CLP race, Stokes was unanimously elected.8221;

He informed that Viplove Thakur8217;s resignation has been accepted and soon, a new leader will be chosen to head the party. Thakur had taken over the party reins two-and-half years ago, after which she became member of the Rajya Sabha.

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After the party8217;s recent defeat, Thakur had blamed Virbhadra claiming that it was the state Government, and not the party, that had lost the polls.