HP rebels called to Delhi

The wedding took place to the accompaniment of the political band which was at full play. The event brought together both Union Minister Shanta Kumar who reached Una last night, and Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal who flew in from Delhi this morning. Also present were BJP General Secretary and in charge of Himachal Affairs Narender Modi and BJP State President Jai Kishan Sharma, besides a number of ministers and legislators.

Notwithstanding their public pronouncements, made separately, that the crisis will blow over sooner than latter, both Dhumal and Shanta camps looked clearly divided. While the latter attracted quite a crowd at a breakfast meeting, Dhumal’s supporters raised slogans like “Punish the traitors” at the helipad where he was given a warm welcome. Celebrations failed to soften up the tension between the two camps. Significantly, Dhumal who was to reach Hamirpur tonight, changed his plans and left for Shimla. Narender Modi and Shanta Kumar left for New Delhi, separately.

Shanta Kumar was accompanied by two of the dissident ministers and an MLA– Transport Minister Kishan Kapoor, Independent Minister Ramesh Chaudhary and Paragpur MLA Nirmala Devi–besides former Education Minister Radha Raman Shastri and K. R. Balnata, vice-chairman of State Transport Board. He was returning from the marriage ceremony of a kin of Harinarayan Saini, another dissident minister from Nalagarh. While his loyalists left Una last night, Shanta stayed on to attend Pandey’s wedding.

When contacted, Shanta Kumar told ENS that the Dhumal Government was strong and the issue would be resolved soon and that too, amicably. He denied having any hand in the drama saying it was a matter between the the Chief Minister and his ministers and MLAs. Shanta said he had been in politics for the last 40 years and all Himachalis belonged to him. He denied making an attempt to destablise the state government with the objective of becomng the Chief Minister.

Narender Modi, who accompanied Dhumal from Delhi, declined to comment on the crisis saying he had come here to attend a wedding and would not utter a word on state politics. The Chief Minister too declined to give any detailed views on the crisis that rocked his government but said the high command had been apprised of the developments. It was an internal affair of the party and would be sorted out, he said.

A confident-looking Dhumal said there was no political instability in the state. The letter dissatisfied ministers and MLAs had drafted was fixed to him while he was at Delhi, not by them but by a newsman, he disclosed.

Last night, Shanta Kumar had a closed-door meeting at Una with BJP President Jai Kishan Sharma for more than an hour. It is learnt that the Union Minister also met Excise and Taxation Minister Parveen Sharma and Health Minister J. P Nadda, who are Dhumal loyalists. What transpoired at the meeting could not be confirmed.