A fresh political storm has erupted within the ruling Congress party in Himachal Pradesh following the resignation of former Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) and ex-MLA from Jawali, Neeraj Bharti, from his post as vice-president of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC). The resignation came on Thursday, just hours after the party served him a show-cause notice for repeatedly criticizing the state government and party leadership on social media.
Resignation Submitted to Party Leaders
Bharti, who is the son of senior Cabinet Minister Chaudhary Chander Kumar, submitted his resignation letter to HPCC president Vinay Kumar and Kangra District Congress Committee president Anurag Sharma. This development is widely seen as one of the most significant indicators of growing discontent within the ruling Congress, which returned to power in Himachal Pradesh in December 2022.
Scathing Attack on Government Functioning
In his resignation letter, Bharti launched a severe critique of the Congress government led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. He alleged that thousands of dedicated party workers who fought against the Bharatiya Janata Party and worked tirelessly to bring the Congress back to power have been ignored after the government was formed. According to Bharti, grassroots workers who played a crucial role in the party's electoral victory now feel neglected, unheard, and sidelined.
He claimed that a widening disconnect between the government and party workers has created frustration and disappointment among loyal Congress cadres across the state. “The workers who carried the party flag during difficult times are feeling helpless today,” Bharti stated in his resignation letter. He added that he could no longer reconcile himself with the prevailing circumstances and had therefore decided to relinquish his organizational responsibility.
Show-Cause Notice Issued Earlier
Earlier in the day, Kangra District Congress Committee president Anurag Sharma had issued a show-cause notice to Bharti, accusing him of indiscipline and seeking an explanation for his public criticism of the party and the state government through social media posts. Bharti was directed to submit his reply within 10 days, failing which disciplinary action could be initiated against him. The timing of the resignation, coming shortly after the notice, underscores the deepening rift within the party.
Concerns of Party Workers Highlighted
While expressing gratitude to the party leadership and workers for their support, Bharti said he hoped the concerns of dedicated Congress workers would be taken seriously in the future. His resignation has brought to the forefront the simmering tensions within the Himachal Pradesh Congress, with many party insiders acknowledging that the leadership needs to address the grievances of its grassroots workers to prevent further damage.
The political fallout from Bharti's resignation is expected to have significant implications for the Sukhu government, as it faces mounting challenges from within its own ranks. The Congress leadership at the state and national levels will likely need to intervene to restore unity and confidence among party workers.
