Himachal Congress in-charge Rajni Patil said that the senior leaders Virbhadra Singh and Vidya Stokes cannot be ignored and are ‘marg darshak’ of Congress party in Himachal.

During her fifth meeting as a part of the state-wide meeting with the party workers at Theog in Shimla district 30 kms from Shimla on Friday Rajni Patil seemed to be trying to placate the media reports and questions of the Congress senior leaders Virbhadra Singh and Vidya Stokes being ignored during the meetings that she started on July 9 as a part of her first phase of state visit.

“Both the Senior Congress leaders will give direction to the state Congress party. They are free to participate in any meeting of the party. Being senior most and elder, we cannot dictate them to be present in the meetings,” she said.The party will emerge victorious in the four Lok Sabha seats under the able guidance and blessings of the senior leaders, she added.

Patil said that the Congress party wants to see the Congress back to power, headed by Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Minister for which the party has launched Mission-2019.

Soon the party will be launching Foundation- 2019 at booth level to strengthen the party, she added.

She said that she has been entrusted the task to understand the party by Sonia Gandhi and All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Rahul Gandhi, after she assumed the charge of the new party incharge of Himachal.

Patil said that despite the party was not in government in the state, the enthusiasm and zeal amongst the party workers is overwhelming and the party workers need to work unitedly and in close coordination.

Former Congress Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh shared the stage with Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee President Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu during the meeting.

Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting Virbhadra Singh while talking to media persons said that his position with the Himachal Pradesh Congress politics as ‘marg darshak’ is not to be equated with the status of Lal Krishan Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi within BJP.

“It is necessary to understand that I am more active in politics than any of them. Although, I have still not actively started my state wide tour, however, I will remain actively associated in campaigning, if the tickets for the Lok Sabha election are allotted to capable candidates and they are worthy,” he said in reply to a question.