Shimla, March 24 (NationPress) The former President of Himachal Pradesh Congress, Pratibha Singh, expressed that while she lacks personal ambitions, she feels a sense of loss for not being able to serve in the Rajya Sabha, where she could have continued advocating for Himachal's interests.

In an interview with IANS, Singh shared, "Although I don't pursue personal ambition, the party has granted me numerous opportunities, including three successful Lok Sabha candidacies from Mandi. This time, many supporters, particularly those of my late husband and former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, urged me to take a seat in the Rajya Sabha."

Reflecting on the missed opportunity, she stated, "I could have consistently raised Himachal’s voice in Parliament." Nonetheless, she acknowledged the congress high command's decision to select a younger leader for the position. "Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, believed in providing opportunities to young leaders, so a young party worker was nominated for the Rajya Sabha seat," she added.

Singh expressed her confidence in the new candidate's ability to meet the public's expectations. Dismissing allegations that the party favors wealthy individuals over capable politicians for the Rajya Sabha, she remarked, "Such claims are merely media speculation."

She highlighted the positive aspect of promoting a young leader, hoping they would engage with various communities, understand their issues, and work towards solutions.

Furthermore, Singh urged that responsibilities should be distributed among party workers across states. "In Congress, it is vital for our dedicated workers to be recognized and entrusted with responsibilities so they can continue strengthening the party," she said.

On the party's dynamics in Himachal Pradesh, Singh insisted on assigning responsibilities to committed workers. "As Congress President, I sought to establish a cohesive body urgently. However, during the last elections, an oversized body with 400-450 Congress workers was formed, which proved impractical. Responsibilities should be allocated to those who are genuinely dedicated," she commented.

She mentioned her discussions with party leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi regarding the need for a more efficient organizational structure.

Singh expressed disappointment over the delays in forming this body. "If the decision had been made earlier, the situation would have been different. I collaborated with the Chief Minister, and we both agreed to dissolve the previous body and initiate the formation of a new one," she explained.

She noted that the establishment of the new organization has also faced delays. "For the district presidents, we proposed names of experienced individuals, yet this process took considerable time as well," Singh added.

She acknowledged that the appointments within the state Congress have been sluggish. "Currently, we still lack block presidents. With upcoming panchayat and Assembly elections, we need to mobilize and begin our work. These challenges lie ahead of us," she stated.

Expressing her trust in Vinay Kumar, who has taken over as the new Himachal Pradesh Congress President, she said, "We are pleased that a young leader, who has served as a three-time MLA, has been appointed."

Singh firmly stated that there is no lobbying within the Congress, urging everyone to focus on working for the party and the public's welfare. "All our party workers are committed," she concluded.