Amitabh Shukla / Shimla/ Chandigarh
The resignation of Virbhadra
Singh from the Manmohan Singh Cabinet on corruption charges is set to have a
serious ramifications for the Congress in poll bound Himachal Pradesh. Known
simply as the “Raja” by his supporters, the five-time chief minister of the
state is the only mass leader of the Congress who could give BJP a run for its
money in the November polls.
“Now that Singh is out of the
Union Cabinet, there is a big question mark on him assuming the leadership
mantle in the state. Even if he does so, the BJP will get a punching bag in the
run-up to the polls,” a senior state Congress leader said.
But supporters of Singh argue
that it is a “big opportunity” for the “Raja”, now a former Union Minister, to
stay put in the state and take the BJP head on. “Merely framing charges does
not prove anything. People are not going to buy the argument of corruption levelled
against him by BJP or Team Anna. He has been in public life for too long a
period and his supporters know him inside out,” said one of his camp followers.
Even as various permutations and
combinations are being worked out, what is certain is that the exit of Singh
from the Union Cabinet will not enhance the chances of his rivals in state
politics. Union Minister Anand Sharma, PCC chief Kaul Singh Thakur and former
minister G S Balli are considered his rivals but it is unlikely that they would
benefit from the slur which Singh faces in a Shimla court now.
But the framing of charges has
given enough ammunition to the state BJP and it can keep firing salvos at
regular intervals if Singh indeed plays an active role in the election campaign
and throws his hat in the ring for being projected as the chief ministerial
candidate in the November assembly polls.
When the five-time chief minister
organised a show of strength in Shimla to mark his 50 years in public life and
also his birthday last week, he clearly indicated that the Congress should
consider its policy of not declaring its chief ministerial candidate ahead of the
polls. Now that there is a twist in the tale and the courts have intervened,
Singh would himself reconsider his assertions given that it could become a
major poll issue in the state.
The clout of Singh in state
politics stems from his stranglehold on the Thakur dominated areas and
constituencies. “He knows, every worker, every leader, every road and every
mountain here,” summed up a supporter. Of the 23 legislators of the Congress in
HP Assembly, 21 turned up to wish him well on his birthday, clearly knowing
that it was a show of strength rather than a simple birthday celebration.
Political observers, however,
feel that given the age of Singh, who turned 78 last week, and the framing of
charges against him, the political innings of the leader has practically come
to an end. “He could be enjoying support amongst the legislators and also in
the Thakur dominated areas but corruption charges will have serious electoral implications
at a time when elections are just over four months away,” said a Shimla based
analyst
As there is a general atmosphere
in the country and in Himachal Pradesh against corruption, the timing of the
court order rings alarm bells for the veteran leader. Though Singh is targeting
the BJP for the timing of the order, there are few takers for the allegations
given the fact that the case against him was over two-decade old but still no
closure report had been filed and the court prima facie found enough evidence
to frame charges against him.
“Singh has been a fighter and has
seen numerous ups and downs. But this time, his age and the charges are against
him. It is difficult for him to bounce back unless the charges against him are
quashed by a court,” a Congress leader in Shimla admitted.
The road ahead of Singh is
lonely, quipped another party leader. (June 27, 2012)
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