Crisis-ridden Congress trying to rope in Anand Sharma again for Himachal polls

Shimla: With the Congress going through a crisis ahead of its presidential poll and several leaders quitting the grand old party, the role of former union minister Anand Sharma, who had recently resigned as chairman of the party’s state steering committee, is once again in focus for the Himachal Pradesh polls.

Sharma hails from Shimla and has served as Rajya Sabha member thrice, apart from being member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) for several years.

His G-23 tag has left him sidelined for having caused serious dissent in the top echelons of the party. This resulted in confusion over his role in the forthcoming assembly elections in his home state.

Till veteran Congress leader Virbhadra Singh was in a commanding position in Himachal Pradesh, Anand Sharma could not think of a significant say in the political affairs in the hill state. Virbhadra Singh’s demise has left the Congress with a huge political vacuum in the state that once was a Congress fortress, till the rise of the BJP.

But after Congress leader and PCC working committee Chairman Harsh Mahajan, one of Virbhadra Singh’s insiders and strategists, joining the BJP, the Congress leadership must be quite shaken and left wondering as to who will be next ?

Thus, focus is shifting back to Anand Sharma, particularly after the Rajasthan leadership crisis and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot turning rebel ahead of the Congress presidential elections. The Congress leaders handling Himachal Pradesh election preparedness believe Sharma’s absence from the campaign could create a serious damage to the party face and even hit its prospects.

“ Anand Sharma may not be having a great influence in the state but after all he can be a heavyweight star campaigner as most local leaders such as Mukesh Agnihotri ,who is leader of opposition, and Sukhwinder Sukhu, head of the campaign committee, will be confined to their own constituencies. We are not looking at Pratibha Singh as a high-profile campaigner but as a symbol of Virbhadra Singh’s vast political legacy in Mandi and old Himachal” a Congress poll manager told India Narrative.

Under the circumstances Anand Sharma could certainly add some value apart from his presence in dispelling the impression that he could also leave the party. Some G-23 members such as Ghulam Nabi Azad and Kapil Sibal have already left the Congress.

Reports say party leaders like Rajeev Shukla and Deepa Das Munshi have already held a few rounds of meetings with Sharma at his residence in New Delhi.

Political observers point out that the Congress party’s poll strategists like Chattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and AICC incharge Rajeev Shukla cannot even connect with people of the hills. Anand Sharma could at least give the party some connect with the voters as a national figure from the state.

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi slated to arrive in Himachal Pradesh to inaugurate Rs 1500 crore AIIMS project at Bilaspur and attend ancient Kullu Dussehra on October 5, the Congress may feel the pressure mounting on the party to counter the BJP.

BJP national President J P Nadda is also reaching on October 3 and will camp in the state to oversee the election campaign. AIIMS being his dream project in home town, Bilaspur, Nadda will find himself doubly blessed and politically correct to kick-start the poll campaign.

“Today, there is no one of stature in the Congress to challenge the BJP leadership. Those aspiring to be at the helm of affairs or eyeing the Chief Minister’s chair, are just pygmies. They neither have credibility nor political experience to give direction to the Congress. The ship of sinking” says former minister Major (Rtd) Vijai Singh Mankotia.

Mankotia’s frustration with the Congress is well known as he has been a bitter critic of Virbhadra Singh and shifted sides frequently.