In a rare act of unity among the states two top Congress leaders,Union Minister Virbhadra Singh and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Vidya Stokes have joined hands to form a Congress-led Shimla Zila Parishad. The party,despite having done impressively well in some of the districts,failed to retain the zila parishad chairmans post mainly due to factional rivalries and groupism. Virbhadra and Stokes head separate groups in the party and have been struggling it out over leadership issues. But the two have now come together to ensure that the BJP does not take advantage of the situation a get a chance to outsmart the Congress. Immediately after Virbhadras arrival to Himachal,first time after last weeks Cabinet reshuffle,he got in touch with Stokes,conveying his willingness to reach at a consensus on the name for Shimla Zila Parishad chairman. I have no issues. can meet whenever you (Virbhadra) find it convenient, she responded. The two leaders met for over an hour at Virbhadra Singhs private residence Holly Lodge and also listened to the views of some of the elected members of the zila parishad. Though the Union minister left this morning as he was supposed to sign an MoU with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,but will return on Wednesday evening to put his final seal on the name of the zila parishad chairman. Talking to The Indian Express,Stokes said: Yes,we have had some preliminary discussions,but a final decision on the chairmans name will be taken when Virbhadra ji arrives tomorrow after attending the Republic Day parade and other official business in Delhi. In the 24-member Shimla Zila Parishad,the Congress has 11 members and BJP has eight. The Congress is understood to have support of two others. The arithmetic is entirely in Congresss favour,which had headed the zila parishad earlier too. Deputy Commissioner J S Rana said the election for the chairman was slated for January 27 and it would require a simple majority to complete the process.
