Amidst a growing schism between Vikramaditya Singh and the ruling Himachal Pradesh government helmed by Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the disgruntled Himachal Pradesh Minister engaged in a discussion with Congress general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and KC Venugopal in Delhi yesterday evening, as per sources divulging details to India Today TV. The duration of the meeting extended beyond one-and-half hours, as indicated by sources familiar with the matter.
This rendezvous unfolds against the backdrop of Vikramaditya Singh and his mother Pratibha Singh, who serves as the Himachal Pradesh Congress unit chief, expressing solidarity with the six disqualified Congress MLAs who defected to the BJP camp during the Rajya Sabha election.
Sources intimate that during the meeting, Vikramaditya Singh articulated the grievances voiced by the Congress MLAs against the governance of the party in the state.
The agitation within the Congress ranks was further exacerbated last week when Vikramaditya Singh tendered his resignation as the Public Works Department Minister, citing allegations of "humiliation" at the hands of the Sukhvinder Sukhu-led government, along with the mistreatment endured by fellow legislators.
Accusing the state government of displaying disregard for his late father, former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Vikramaditya Singh lamented the failure to allocate space for his father's statue on Mall Road.
Although there were speculations regarding his potential defection to the BJP, Vikramaditya Singh clarified that he would withhold his resignation pending discussions with the Congress leadership.
On March 1, Vikramaditya Singh journeyed to Chandigarh to confer with the six disqualified Congress MLAs, as per sources acquainted with the developments.
Echoing his sentiments, his mother Pratibha Singh criticized the hurried decision to disqualify the six MLAs, emphasizing their fundamental right to be heard. She underscored the futility of attempting appeasement at the eleventh hour, stressing the necessity for the Sukhu government to heed the grievances of the dissenting MLAs.
Subsequently, on March 2, Vikramaditya Singh modified his Facebook profile bio, substituting 'Himachal Pradesh minister' with 'Himachal ka sevak (Worker of Himachal Pradesh)', thereby sparking conjecture about his future trajectory within the party.
These developments transpired amidst conjectures regarding Vikramaditya Singh's contemplation of launching a new political outfit following in his father's footsteps. However, the Congress luminary has refrained from officially confirming these speculations hitherto.
