BJP may part ways with HVC in Himachal

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, FEB. 28. Himachal Pradesh could be the second State after Haryana where the BJP is expected to part ways with its alliance partner. The simmering differences between the BJP- HVC alliance have come out in the open with the Himachal Vikas Congress chief, Mr. Sukh Ram, expelling his trusted lieutenant and Public Works Minister, Mr. Mohinder Singh, from the party for anti-party activities.

However, the fact is that, during the recent bye-elections for the Solan Assembly segment Mr. Mohinder Singh, had openly canvassed for the BJP candidate, Mr. Rajiv Kumar Bindal, and had exerted pressure through various means on Mr. Sukh Ram to withdraw the HVC candidate from the contest. Mr. Mohinder Singh is considered close to the Chief Minister, Mr. Prem Kumar Dhumal.

Mr. Sukh Ram's HVC at present has three MLAs including himself. It no longer holds the balance of power in the Assembly as, with the Solan Assembly victory, the BJP has attained a simple majority of 35 members in the 68-member House. The Congress(I) is now far behind with 28 legislators.

Talking to TheHindu during his visit to the capital on Sunday, the Himachal Chief Minister, Mr. Prem Kumar Dhumal, said the expulsion of Mr. Singh was an internal matter of the HVC and they had to sort it out themselves. Asked if he would drop Mr. Mohinder Singh from the Cabinet as he is no longer in the HVC, Mr. Dhumal said he had received no such demand from Mr. Sukh Ram as yet and so the question did not arise.

Mr. Dhumal said the BJP would not initiate any move to break the alliance and even after attaining a simple majority on its own wanted the alliance to continue. If Mr. Sukh Ram has any grievances they can be sorted out.

However, HVC partymen fear that the BJP is instigating Mr. Mohinder Singh, to wean away the other Minister, Mr. Markanday Singh, from the HVC and form a separate group in the House. This would not only isolate Mr. Sukh Ram but also ensure that they do not invite anti-defection law.

Sources close to the Chief Minister said that Mr.Dhumal is unlikely to drop Mr. Mohinder Singh, even if it is demanded by Mr. Sukh Ram. This is expected to lead to parting of the alliance partners, although on a sore note.

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Section  : Regional
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