When former chief minister Virbhadra Singh decided to contest the Mandi Lok Sabha elections seat after a gap of 29 years,his detractors in the party thought they were bidding him good riddance - packing him off from state politics, if elected, and seeing him politically finished if he got defeated. Their hopes have been dashed.

As news about Virbhadra’s induction in the Union Ministry broke today afternoon, there were jubilations, especially in Mandi. Virbhadra Singh, a five-time chief minister, twice central minister and thrice PCC president is perhaps the Congress party’s lone mass-based leader in the state.

This is also the first time that Himachal will have two Cabinet-rank ministers at the Centre. Anand Sharma, a Rajya Sabha member, was amongst first 19 ministers to take oath as Cabinet minister, causing serious heartburn amongst Virbhadra’s supporters.

They are now overjoyed. “It is now that Himachal Pradesh has got real representation in the Central government,” said Harsh Mahajan, a former minister and Virbhadra’s key campaign manager.

Sources say Virbhadra Singh has been chosen to join the ministry to give a fair representation to a Rajput Congress leader, after former HRD minister Arjun Singh has been kept out, and former Madhya Pradesh CM Digvijay Singh opted to work in the organisation. Sources say Digvijay Singh and Karan Singh, another veteran Congress leader, backed Virbhadra’s cause. The former CM has also benefitted because of his standing in the party.

His induction has come as serious jolt to his rival camp in the party, led by Congress Legislature Party’s (CLP) leader Vidya Stokes, a potential contender for the chief minister’s post. Some of his detractors had earlier expressed joy that Anand Sharma made it to the Cabinet. They have been stumped by the former chief minister.

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