After LS loss in Himachal, Cong dissolves state unit

The Congress on Wednesday disbanded the entire party unit in Himachal Pradesh, a possible consequence of setbacks in the Lok Sabha elections, an embarrassing Rajya Sabha loss and several organisational and policy faux pas that exposed infighting in the only north Indian state the party governs.

- Saubhadra Chatterji

The reconstitution of the unit might see the wings of party chief Pratibha Singh, an influential power centre in the state, getting clipped, said Congress leaders aware of the development.

"Congress president has approved the proposal to dissolve the entire state unit of the PCC, district presidents and Block Congress Committees of Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee, with immediate effect," an official communication from AICC general secretary KC Venugopal said.

An AICC functionary added that the dissolution of the state unit took place months after Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge promised tough measures in states where the Congress performed badly in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. In Himachal Pradesh, the party failed to win a single Lok Sabha seat.

"The Lok Sabha debacle seems to be the immediate trigger but the party might also try to clip the wings of Pratibha Singh, widow of the five-term chief minister Virbhadra Singh," said the leaders.