What was intended as a united front against alleged electoral malpractices turned into a spectacle of internal power play in Himachal Pradesh. During the “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” campaign at Rajiv Bhawan, Shimla, supporters of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh broke into competing slogans for their respective leaders.
The scene forced Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) chief Pratibha Singh to briefly pause her speech as the two factions engaged in a noisy contest that lasted nearly 10 minutes. The situation only calmed after AICC co-incharge Chetan Chauhan intervened, appealing to workers to focus their slogans on the party instead of individuals.
Party Message Gets Derailed
The campaign was meant to mobilise support for Congress’ nationwide protest against alleged electoral fraud by the BJP during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, the visible rift highlighted the deep undercurrents within the state Congress unit.
HPCC chief Pratibha Singh downplayed the incident, describing it as a “show of strength” and suggesting such enthusiasm should continue in future campaigns. She reiterated that Rahul Gandhi had exposed the BJP’s alleged vote theft, adding that the Congress party would carry the campaign message to every village.
Strategy Meets Disorganisation
To strengthen the campaign, Congress Legislature Party met in Shimla on Friday morning under the supervision of Rajani Patil. A subsequent meeting of leaders and supporters was held at the party office, where Sukhu announced a statewide signature campaign extending down to the block level.
But signs of poor coordination were evident. Media relations soured when Gagret MLA Rakesh Kalia told journalists, “This is a Congress programme, not a programme for the media.” In protest, reporters walked out. Meanwhile, traffic congestion was reported on Cart Road and Combermere Bridge as VIP and police vehicles clogged no-parking zones.
BJP Accused of “Institutional Bulldozing”
Rajani Patil launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Union government, accusing it of systematically silencing the Opposition. She alleged that during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the government evaded discussions on alleged electoral fraud, despite demands from Rahul Gandhi.
Patil likened the BJP’s tactics to Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath’s bulldozer politics, claiming the central government was using “institutional bulldozers” to crush dissent.
Leadership and Organisational Gaps
The meeting also turned focus towards the state party’s own organisational vacuum. The HPCC has been defunct since November 2024 after Mallikarjun Kharge dissolved the committee, along with district and block units. Though Pratibha Singh was retained as state president, her tenure ended in April 2025.
Rajani Patil assured the media that the party’s organisational restructuring was underway, stressing, “There is a procedure to form an organisation in the party and it will be done soon.”
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Unity or Power Struggle?
Even as Sukhu positioned Congress as a united force in contrast to a “fragmented BJP,” the day’s events underscored the fragile balance of loyalty and ambition within Himachal’s Congress unit. The “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” campaign may have been aimed at targeting the BJP, but it inadvertently spotlighted Congress’ own internal divisions.
