Shimla:
A day after the grand unveiling of the late six-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh’s statue at Shimla’s historic Ridge, the visit of Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to Himachal Pradesh has set political circles abuzz.
While Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra graced the emotional unveiling ceremony on Monday alongside Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri, and PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh, Rahul Gandhi’s absence did not go unnoticed.
The successful ceremony has established that Virbhadra still lives in the hearts and minds of people who turned out in large number to honour the leader and in solidarity with Vikramaditya Singh and his mother Pratibha Singh on The Ridge.
Rahul Gandhi’s arrival just a day later has triggered speculation over his political messaging and the delicate balance he must maintain within the state unit.
The timing has stirred talk within the Congress ranks — was this merely a scheduling coincidence, or a calculated move to avoid fuelling factional rivalries?
The question resonates strongly among loyalists of the late Virbhadra Singh, who continue to see his legacy as central to the party’s identity in the hill state.
At the same time, chatter within the Congress camp has intensified over the impending reorganization of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC).
Will the leadership baton remain with Pratibha Singh, MP and wife of the late Virbhadra Singh, or shift to a new face?
Names doing the rounds include Kuldeep Rathour, MLA from Theog and a known organization man, and Rohit Thakur, Education Minister and MLA from Jubbal-Kotkhai, both considered contenders with distinct loyalties.
The Gandhi family now faces a delicate task — retaining the emotional connect with the Virbhadra Singh legacy while not alienating the Sukhu-led government or the emerging younger faction.
Insiders say Rahul Gandhi’s visit could also be aimed at quietly gauging the mood within the party before key organizational decisions are taken.
As the Congress strives to maintain its grip on the hill state amid growing BJP aggression, the next few days may reveal whether Gandhi opts for a balance of power — or a clear tilt toward one camp.
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