After the BJP’s crackdown on rebel candidates, the Congress is also preparing to initiate strict disciplinary action against party rebels contesting the Municipal Corporation elections in Himachal Pradesh. The party currently has three rebel candidates in the fray — one in Solan Municipal Corporation and two in Mandi Municipal Corporation.
HPCC organisational secretary Vinod Zinta said a meeting has been convened on Monday to take a final decision regarding the rebels. He said talks with the dissident candidates were in the final stages and if they failed to withdraw in favour of the official Congress nominees, the matter would be referred to the party’s disciplinary committee for action.
Unlike the BJP, which is grappling with rebellion in all four municipal corporations going to polls, the Congress is facing dissent only in Solan and Mandi. However, the party leadership is keen to avoid internal damage and is actively trying to persuade the rebels to step aside.
At the same time, the Congress disciplinary committee has also taken serious note of complaints regarding party office-bearers and MLAs making public statements against one another. Disciplinary committee chairman Kuldeep Rathore said the remarks were creating confusion among party workers and harming organisational discipline.
Rathore said AICC Himachal in-charge Rajni Patil had directed the committee to act firmly to maintain discipline within the party. He advised leaders to raise grievances before the HPCC or disciplinary committee instead of airing differences publicly.
