At 93, Sukh Ram in poll grind, age no impediment
Dipender Manta
Tribune News Service
Mandi, May 13
Defying age, forrmer Telecom Minister Sukh Ram, 93, is striving hard to ensure the victory of his grandson Ashray Sharma, the Congress candidate from Mandi. He is, in fact, Congress’ star campaigner. The Mandi Lok Sabha constituency comprises 17 Assembly segments spread across six districts — Mandi, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, Kinnuar and Shimla. The terrain is rough, roads bumpy.
But Sukh Ram has covered most parts of the constituency, seeking support for his grandson, addressing meetings at Nachan, Sundernagar, Gohar, Seraj and Mandi Sadar. He is to hold meetings in Sarkaghat and Joginder Nagar segments in the next few days.
Unmindful of his age or health, Sukh Ram has visited the remote tribal district of Lahaul Spiti, Pangi and Bharmaur in Chamba district. Sukh Ram, who has represented Mandi as MP thrice, enjoys immense goodwill in almost all areas. With Sukh Ram giving a push to Ashray’s campaign, CM Jai Ram Thakur has been forced to spend considerable time in the constituency to ensure BJP candidate Ramswaroop Sharma’s win.
It was owing to Sukh Ram’s efforts and his connections in the Congress that the party allotted the ticket to his grandson. Sukh Ram had joined the BJP along with his son Anil Sharma before the Assembly elections after a tiff with Virbhadra Singh. Anil Sharma won from Mandi Sadar and became Power Minister in the BJP government. But Sukh Ram’s decision to return to the Congress fold put his son in a piquant situation leading to his resignation.
Ashray’s mom, wife slog it out
With BJP legislator Anil Sharma virtually confined to his home, his wife and daughter-in-law are making up for his “forced absence” by vociferously campaigning for Ashray Sharma. The Mandi Sadar MLA, if found canvassing for his son, Anil could face disqualification from the BJP, the party he joined just before the 2017 Assembly polls.
“It is agonising for me”, says Anil, sitting in his house in Mandi. He will not be attending the PM’s rally here on Monday. His wife Sunita and daughter-in-law Radhika are trying to make up for his absence. “My father is not by my side, but I have his blessings,” says Ashray. A practising lawyer in Delhi, Radhika is now in the thick of politics. Clad in a casual blue cotton kurta and palazzo pants, she goes door to door, seeking votes for her husband.There is much curiosity among the locals about the “young bespectacled girl”.
Ashray’s father-in-law Rajiv Gambhir, uncle of cricketer and BJP East Delhi candidate Gautam Gambhir, is in town too.
