Storm in Himachal Pradesh Congress: Anand Sharma camp sees Rajeev Shukla plot

SHIMLA: A storm is brewing within Himachal Pradesh unit of Congress following the resignation of senior party leader Anand Sharma from the post of chairman of party’s steering committee.
The supporters of Sharma have blamed AICC in-charge for state Rajeev Shukla for the situation, claiming that since his appointment as chairman of steering committee, Anand Sharma had been deliberately ignored in the meetings held in Delhi, Chandigarh and Shimla. Supporters are now grouping together to open a front against Shukla for which a strategy would be devised at a dinner being planned in the next 15 days.
Leaders belonging to Sharma’s faction have claimed that the situation within the party would worsen if Shukla fails to address the issues raised by Sharma in his resignation letter. While some MLAs have already met Sharma in Delhi, others are likely to meet him in coming days.
Sources said a majority of leaders are not happy with Shukla as they feel that his closeness with BJP leaders would go against the party in the coming assembly elections. They feel that Shukla’s failure to include Anand Sharma in the decision-making process for assembly polls has resulted in the present situation.
A senior Congress leader, requesting anonymity, told TOI that closeness of Rajeev Shukla with Union minister Anurag Thakur is known to all in Himachal Pradesh and when BJP government in Himachal Pradesh was headed by then chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, father of Anurag Thakur, Shukla was among five persons who were awarded honorary doctorates by Himachal Pradesh University in Shimla in December 2011.
Now those opening a front against Shukla have questioned as to why Sharma was not called to attend the meetings held at Delhi, Chandigarh and Shimla even after being appointed as the chairman of the steering committee. These leaders have decided to organise a dinner in the next 15 days in which they will devise their strategy. This dinner will also be a show of strength for those feeling sidelined or neglected either by party or senior leadership. “A majority of leaders have agreed to attend the dinner being planned in next 15 days,” sources said.
Though Shukla had met Sharma in Delhi to pacify him, this has not helped much as latter’s supporters have demanded redressal of issues raised in the resignation letter first. Another leader said on Wednesday, Sharma would be accorded a rousing welcome in Shimla to show that his supporters are with him.