Himachal Pradesh

The blame game continues! 

It is obvious that the former Chief Minister and strongman of Himachal Pradesh Virbhadra Singh is unable to reconcile to the electoral defeat that his government and party suffered. The ruling BJP, meanwhile is enjoying the brewing storm in the Congress as it is likely to have long term effects on the fortunes of the Congress unless addressed urgently. 

It is difficult to say whether the Congress party is suffering from a death wish or is plainly tired of itself but the fact remains that it is heading towards a crisis of its own making. While former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who once again led the party during the elections is unable to accept the defeat, his opponents within the party seem to be smug in his discomfiture. Many of Virbhadra Singh’s supporters feel that these people are more pleased by the defeat than the BJP is happy over its own victory!

The bitter truth of the party in this hill state is that there has been such a dearth of leaders that Virbhadra Singh has been allowed to continue in office much too long. His opponents would like to say that he has not allowed grooming of leadership but in covering their own shortcomings they forget that his leadership has been challenged a number of times and often with the blessings of the high command and yet such has been the popular support for him that his opponents, including the high command, has had to eat the humble pie. The most serious attempt to dislodge him was made during Narsimha Rao’s time when Sukh Ram was sought to be installed as Chief Minister. However, such has been the fierce loyalty of Virbhadra Singh’s followers that there was a real danger of split in the party that forced the high command to respect popular support.

However, now the situation has qualitatively changed. Virbhadra Singh has lost the election for the party and therefore the moral high ground of popular support. He is also not getting any younger and would be the first to concede that it was high time that a worthy successor is found. Common sense would suggest that this be done with his consent and support rather than by demonstrating his reduced size in the esteem of high command. It is in this light that the analysis of the party’s defeat be taken seriously.

He is justified when he claims that he alone was campaigning during the polls as the central leaders were too busy making an unsuccessful bid to unseat Narendra Modi in Gujarat. What he does not say publicly is that both the State President of the party Viplove Thakur and the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party Vidya Stokes could hardly find time to move out of their constituencies. One was busy campaigning for her brother while the other was having her back to the wall to save her own seat. What is left even more unsaid is that hw can those leaders be really leaders of the people of the State who have to stay put in their own little dens during election time. Obviously, the situation is galling for a former Chief Minister who has led the party to many a victories and who has decidedly made a difference to the lives of the people that those who have made very little contribution to the fortunes of the party are today enjoying his reduced stature.

On the other hand, his detractors within the party have a point when they say that the last five years have been marked by allegation of corruption and that the attendant publicity was ineffectively countered by Virbhadra Singh. He had allowed himself to be surrounded by leaders and bureaucrats whose role gave constant ammunition to the BJP. Since this demonstrated his loose grip over the administration therefore it was high time for him to hand over the reins to a new leader. Many would agree with this but considering the fact that he still enjoys the support of the grass root workers, he needs to be handled with care. He is at the moment licking his wounds and any further move to marginalize him at this juncture is likely to damage the party further.

The high command has also to take into account the reality that BJP has once again chosen Prem Kumar Dhumal as the Chief Minister. Having remained in the saddle earlier for a full term, he is now not only a wiser politician but a much more resourceful one. The mature and inspiring manner in which he has begun his new innings augurs not too well for the Congress. Apparently he is determined to have what he wants without giving the impression of being vindictive, a failing that has afflicted many before him, including Virbhadra Singh. If the infighting within Congress continues unabated then he would have found an unwitting ally in his purpose!