Himachal Lok sabha defeat spurs Congress to form fact-finding panel

In an unexpected setback in Himachal Pradesh, where the Congress party failed to secure any of the four Lok Sabha seats, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) has swiftly initiated measures to understand and address the reasons behind this defeat. AICC National President Mallikarjun Kharge has appointed a two-member fact-finding committee comprising senior Congress leaders PL Punia and Rajni Patil.

This committee is tasked with visiting all four Lok Sabha constituencies in Himachal Pradesh to gather insights from party leaders and the general public. Their mission is to identify the causes of the poor performance and provide a comprehensive report to the party high command. The formation of this committee underscores the urgency with which the Congress leadership is treating this electoral debacle.

Despite the Congress being in power in Himachal Pradesh for the past 17 months and having substantial support from its INDIA alliance partners, including the CPIM and AAP, the party’s inability to win even a single seat has raised serious concerns. The losses were notable, with prominent figures such as Vikramaditya Singh, son of the late six-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, and former Union Minister Anand Sharma failing to secure victories. Additionally, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu and eight of his ministers could not secure leads for their party candidates in their respective assembly constituencies.

This electoral rout marks the third consecutive clean sweep against Congress in Himachal Pradesh, casting doubt on the credibility of the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government and highlighting a disconnect between the party leadership and the grassroots workers. The party high command is keen to address these issues, as similar fact-finding committees have been formed for other states including Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, and Telangana.

The newly formed committee in Himachal Pradesh will scrutinize the party’s campaign strategies, organizational weaknesses, and the effectiveness of the government’s functioning. Their findings will be crucial in reshaping the party’s approach and improving coordination among Congress workers and leaders. The outcome of this investigation is awaited with anticipation as the Congress seeks to rebuild and strengthen its position in the state and beyond.