Will Pratibha Singh’s Street-Power In Shimla Clinch CM Post?

It is now more or less clear that display of street-power by those supporting Himachal PCC chief Pratibha Singh could just come a cropper. Efforts by her supporters to gherao vehicles of Congress observer Chattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel or Pratibha Singh’s own claim that she has support of 25 MLAs cannot swing the opinion of the Congress high command. In fact party old timers say Pratibha’s supporters seem to be following everything from her late husband Virbhadra Singh’s playbook. “Pratibha Singh had won the Mandi Lok Sabha seat in a by-election in 2021. In the assembly elections, of the 17 seats under Mandi Lok Sabha the Congress managed to win only 6 seats, 11 went to the BJP,” pointed out a party veteran. Besides, the favourite of high command seems to be Sukhwinder Singh Sukku. A former Youth Congress president, he claims support of 19 MLAs. He is also close to Rahul Gandhi’s aide, K C Venugopal. Beyond Sukku, Pratibha and CLP leader Mukesh Agnihotri, the Congress may go for a fresh alternative — an OBC face from Kangra — Jawali MLA Chander Kumar. That is because in this election the Congress won 10 of the 15 seats in Kangra. “Whoever wins Kangra wins Himachal. Last time, the BJP had won 11 of the 15 seats. It is only right that someone from Kangra becomes CM,” said an ex-party MP. Pratibha may also back Chander to block Sukku.