Banking on Sukh Ram’s legacy

Pratibha Chauhan 
Tribune News Service
Mandi, May 16

The residence of veteran Congress leader Sukh Ram (91), adjoining Ardhnareshwar temple here, has been the political nerve centre for the last five decades. The house is bustling with activity yet again as Ashray Sharma, the family’s third generation, makes poll debut. A hotel management graduate from London, Ashray (31) sprung a surprise by managing to secure the Congress ticket despite his father Anil Sharma being a minister in the Himachal BJP government — though he quit later. 

Be it elections or otherwise, breakfast has never been a part of Ashray’s routine. A cup of strong black coffee is all he needs to kick-start his day.

It’s 9 am and Ashray, clad in a carbon blue kurta-pyjama and a half-sleeve jacket, is all set to leave for campaigning in Sundernagar Assembly segment along with his grandfather Sukh Ram. But before setting out, he spends some time taking advice from his father-in-law Rajiv Gambhir, uncle of cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir who too is contesting in Delhi but on the BJP ticket.

With his father still keeping his loyalties with the BJP and not campaigning for his son, Ashray is being helped out by his mother Sunita and wife Radhika.

Around 10 am, Ashray arrives at Maloh village and is accompanied by former Sundernagar MLA Sohan Lal Thakur. A gathering of about 200 people, seated under a shamiana under a tree, seems more inquisitive to catch a glimpse of their three-time MP Sukh Ram who, in turn, makes an emotional appeal in a frail voice: “Mein rahoon ya na rahoon, yeh mera pota hai aur aap sabke dukh-sukh me saath khara rahega (My grandson will stand by you through thick and thin).”

As Sukh Ram claims to be having the blessings of six-time CM Virbhadra Singh ji, Ashray chips in: “Main Virbhadra ka shishya hoon, Sukh Ram ka pota aur Anil Sharma aur aap sabka beta (I have the blessings of Virbhadra, Sukh Ram and Anil Sharma. Accept me as your son).” Mixing his speech in Hindi and Mandyali (local dialect), the Congress nominee highlights his family’s contribution to the area’s development. He plays the development card at most of his meetings in Paura Kothi and Bahli Kamad. 

Ashray also doesn’t forget to highlight the “failure” of his opponent Ram Swaroop, saying the sitting BJP MP failed to ask even a single question in Parliament in five years. “Your MP has failed on all fronts. At the same time, he failed to file his income tax returns too,” he quips, drawing applause from the audience.  

Ashray continues with his tour and addresses five more meetings at Chauji, Nihri, Kindar, Bhala and Karla, adjoining Karsog and Sunni. He reaches home at 5 am after a four-hour-long road travel. He has to fly within a few hours to tribal Pangi belt in Chamba. Notwithstanding the fact that he is being condemned for being a product of dynastic politics and opportunism, none of that seems to be bogging Ashray down. He is giving it his all, knowing well the fight is not between him and the BJP nominee, but between Sukh Ram and Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.