Over to the electorate Tomorrow : The Tribune India

Join Whatsapp Channel

Fingers crossed

Over to the electorate Tomorrow

As Himachal goes to the polls tomorrow, an electorate of 53 lakh people will decide the fate of 45 candidates in the fray from the four Lok Sabha seats that the state has.

Over to the electorate Tomorrow


Pratibha Chauhan

As Himachal goes to the polls tomorrow, an electorate of 53 lakh people will decide the fate of 45 candidates in the fray from the four Lok Sabha seats that the state has.

With 1.52 lakh first-time voters and 13.34 lakh voters below 30 years, youth hold the key for the victory of any candidate in these elections. As such, the choice made by the youth will be crucial in deciding the electoral fate of candidates and the two main political players — the BJP and the Congress. It is only the poll results on May 23, which will indicate whether the BJP improves its 2014 performance, by not just winning all four seats, but increasing its victory margin. The Congress on the other hand would be happy if it manages to wrest back any of the four seats, currently held by the BJP.

Stakes high for them 

Retaining all 4 seats important for CM: Retaining all four seats is mandatory for CM Jai Ram Thakur, who is often referred to as a “CM by default” by many, both within and outside BJP, to send across a loud and clear message that he deserves to be in the saddle. Even though he has remained state BJP president and a minister in Dhumal Cabinet in the past, this is the first major opportunity for Thakur as a CM to prove that there is a reason why the high command chose him over others for the top post.

With many legislators, mostly Dhumal loyalists, still not very happy with him, losing even one of the four Lok Sabha seats could fuel dissidence and make the going tough for him. Added to that is the pressure from senior leaders including JP Nadda, Shanta Kumar, PK Dhumal and the RSS leadership. As it is balancing, these major pressures have been one of his biggest challenges in his 15-month rule.

He, of course, has the advantage that the elections are revolving around PM Modi. Since he assumed charge as the CM in December 2017, he still enjoys the image of a clean, humble and well-meaning leader.

Results to decide whether Sukh Ram still holds sway or his era is over

Having suffered a major dent to his image by shuttling parties, 93-year-old veteran Congress leader and former telecommunication minister Sukh Ram is putting in his might to make the electoral launch of his grandson Ashray Sharma a success from his traditional seat of Mandi.

Having become the target of criticism for being a “party hopper” for shuttling between Congress, Himachal Vikas Congress and BJP in his over five-decade long political career, there is little defence he and his son Anil Sharma, BJP MLA, have. Pandit ji, as he is often referred to as, joined the BJP with son Anil Sharma just before the 2017 Assembly poll and chose to return to the Congress fold within a year-and-a-half. Even though BJP leaders as well as former CM Virbhadra Singh heaped insults on him by referring to him as being synonymous with “aya ram, gaya ram” politics, he and his family are posing a tough challenge for CM Jai Ram Thakur on his own home turf.

It is more than obvious that the fight is clearly between CM Jai Ram Thakur and Sukh Ram and sitting MP Ram Swaroop and Congress candidate Ashray Sharma merely happen to be players in the game. The results of the election will indicate whether Panadit ji still holds sway on voters or his era is over as he claimed that BJP managed to win nine of 10 seats in Mandi district owing to his popularity.

Question of political 
survival for Dhumal

After biting dust after his defeat in the 2017 Assembly poll, despite being declared the chief ministerial candidate by the party high command, it is a question of political survival for former CM PK Dhumal. This is very evident from the manner in which the two-time CM is working overtime to ensure the victory of his son Anurag Thakur, who is a three-time MP from Hamirpur.

An astute politician, Dhumal has probably sensed that his son faces greater threat from leaders within the BJP than from the Congress. He is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that detractors are unable to defeat his son, the way they managed to do so for him when he was made to shift from Hamirpur seat to Sujanpur at the last minute.

Being at fag end of his political career, it is very imperative for Dhumal and his family to ensure their resurgence with a resounding victory, so that the other BJP leaders are unable to write off the Dhumal family.

There is no doubt that Dhumal has a considerable following all over the state and enjoys popularity despite the defeat, but this will be proven only with Anurag’s victory. Victory would add to the stature of Anurag, who has carved a niche for himself at the national level and is a prominent face of the party, who could be tipped for a bigger responsibility if BJP returns to power, as indicated by Amit Shah at the Bilaspur rally.

Ensuring good results will be a litmus test for Rathore 

The elections have certainly been a major challenge for state Congress president Kuldeep Rathore, who was installed just before the parliamentary poll, giving him very little time to establish himself. As such, ensuring good results for the party would be a litmus test for the organisational man, who has risen from the ranks, but has a disadvantage of not having any experience of electoral politics. Added to this was the stiff challenge of striking a balance between various factions and senior leaders including Virbhadra Singh, Anand Sharma, Asha Kumari, Mukesh Agnihotri and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

The Congress with its worst-ever defeat in the 2014 parliamentary poll, when it lost all four Lok Sabha seats, was clearly seen struggling to keep itself in the campaign. The party, which initially lagged behind in campaign, besides being starved of funds and resources, did manage to gain the lost ground. Rathore tried his level best to take everyone along and keep the bickering to the minimum.

For Rathore, the outcome of the parliamentary poll would be a reflection on his leadership and ability to lead the party, especially at a time, when questions were being raised on his selection as party chief by the high command. If the Congress is able to wrest even one seat from the BJP, Rathore can claim it to be his achievement. If the BJP manages to register victory on all four seats yet again, Rathore is bound to be subjected to a lot of criticism and questioning, with the possibility of a demand for his removal also echoing.

The main contenders

ANURAG THAKUR

  • Three-time MP and BJP candidate from Hamirpur
  • Age: 44
  • Qualification: Graduate

Political Background: He is a three time MP from Hamirpur, who won in 2004, 2009, and 2014, and seeking fourth entry into the Parliament. He has been the all-India chief of the BJYM, former BCCI president and presently, the chief whip of the BJP in parliament. 

Strength: A young leader who has carved a niche at the national level. Is considered close to many senior leaders, including Amit Shah, Arun Jaitley, Smriti Irani and Sushma Swaraj. Has a strong political legacy with his father being a tall BJP leader, who has been a CM twice.

Weakness: Anti-incumbency, inaccessibility, poor connect with voters owing to his pre-occupation with larger party responsibilities and his association with cricket associations.

Image in public:  Inaccessible in the constituency. However, people feel he is a prominent national-level leader, who has a bright future and could be a future CM.

Ram Lal Thakur

  • Sitting MLA and Congress candidate from Hamirpur
  • Age: 67
  • qualification: law graduate

Political Background: He has been an MLA on five occasions in 1985, 1993, 1998, 2003 and 2017 from Naina Devi Assembly segment in Bilaspur. He has remained a minister in the Virbhadra regime and has held important portfolios of health, industry and forest. Has a tall stature in party and is considered among its top brass. 

Strength: An experienced and widely respected mature leader, who in his capacity as minister for forest, industry and health in successive Congress regimes, have helped people. This time, he has the support of Suresh Chandel, who switched sides and joined the Congress. Thakur had lost to Chandel by a mere 1,600 votes in 2004, so he is optimistic of his victory.

Weakness: Lost thrice from Hamirpur Lok Sabha earlier.

Image in public:  Seasoned, mature leader, a prominent face in the state Congress. Is accessible and maintains a close contact with the electorate.


Pawan Kajal

  • Congress candidate from Kangra Lok Sabha seat
  • Age: 45
  • qualification: Matriculate 

Political Background: He is a two-time MLA, who won as an independent candidate in 2012 and as Congress candidate in 2017 from Kangra Assembly constituency. 

Strength: He is simple and easily approachable to common people. In these parliamentary elections, he is harping heavily on the support of the OBC community, to which he belongs. He is projecting himself as a candidate, who shall always be available to the voters at their doorstep.

Weakness: His biggest weakness is that he is fighting a lone battle as most of the Congress leaders from Kangra are not extending whole-hearted support to him. They have limited themselves to their own Assembly constituencies. Lack of resources is another cause for concern.

Image in public:  In his own Assembly constituency, Kajal is perceived as a simple man, who is easily approachable.

Kishan Kapoor

  • BJP candidate from Kangra Lok Sabha seat
  • Age: 67
  • qualification: Intermediate

Political Background: He is a five-time MLA from Dharamsala (1990, 1993, 1998, 2007 and 2017). He remained a minister in the BJP government from 1998-2003, 2007-2012 and 2017. He is currently the Minister for Food And Civil Supplies in the BJP government in the state. 

Strength: Is a known face as five-time MLA and minister. The fact that there was a BJP government in the state and Modi sentiment are his strengths. Being from a Gaddi community, he could get their votes in large numbers.

Weakness: Kishan Kapoor has an image as a person, who is often rude to government officials and general public. Is short-tempered and loses cool very fast, which is a major drawback in politics.

Image in public:  Despite a political career extending across 27 years, there was no allegation of corruption against Kishan Kapoor and he is considered a clean politician. However, he has an image of speaking rudely to officials and government employees.


Suresh Kashyap

  • BJP candidate from Shimla reserved constituency 
  • Age: 48
  • qualification: M Phil

Political Background: He retired as a senior Non-Commissioned Officer from the Indian Air Force in 2004. He began his political career in 2005 by being elected as a member of the Pacchad BDC. He also remained the district president of the Sirmaur BJP’s SC morcha and later the state general secretary of the SC Morcha from 2009 to 2012. He contested his first Assembly election unsuccessfully in 2007 from Pacchad, but won two subsequent Assembly elections. 

Strength: Is young, educated and develops instant rapport with young voters. Also, he appeals to the ex-servicemen, as he himself has retired from the Indian Air Force.

Weakness: Being a new candidate for the LS poll, he is yet to be introduced to voters in Shimla and Solan, which comprise 12 of the 17 Assembly segments.

Image in public:  He is known as a hard working and perseverant politician, who enjoys a clean image in public.

Col Shandil (retd)

  • Congress candidate from Shimla reserved constituency 
  • Age: 78
  • Qualification: MPhil, PhD

Political Background: Col Dhani Ram Shandil (retd) has been elected as the Member of Parliament  twice from this seat in 1999 as Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) candidate and in 2004 as Congress candidate and was the Social Justice and Empowerment Minister in the previous state government. 

Strength: His biggest strength is that he is an honest, accessible and low profile leader.

Weakness: Age factor is his biggest weakness, as he is the oldest candidate contesting the election and has few achievements to list.

Image in public:  Shandil enjoys a clean image and commands respect as there are no corruption charges against him. 

Also, he was the only minister in the Congress government 2012-17, whose name did not figure in the chargesheet submitted by the Bharatiya Janata Party while in opposition.


Ram Swaroop

  • Sitting MP and BJP candidate from Mandi
  • Age: 60
  • Qualification: Matriculate 

Political Background: He was an out and out organisational leader hailing from Jogindernagar till he won the parliamentary poll in 2014, upsetting the then Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh politically, as he defeated his wife and sitting MP Pratibha Singh by over 39,796 votes. A hardcore RSS man, who remained BJP organising secretary  of Mandi, he also served as a vice-chairman of the HP State Food and Civil Supplies Corporation. 

Strength: Humility and simplicity. Also enjoys a clean image. CM is full throttle in support of him, as it remains a prestige issue for him.

Weakness: Inactive and failed to implement development projects, resulting in heavy anti-incumbency working against him.

Image in public:  Ineffective and disinterested in taking up the cause of people and developmental issues concerning his constituency be it Kullu, Mandi or tribal areas. Has failed to emerge as a leader and as such is totally banking on the CM for his victory.

ASHRAY SHARMA

  • Congress candidate from Mandi
  • Age: 31
  • Qualification: Hotel Management graduate 

Political Background: Ashray is a young leader who was the general secretary of Mandi District Congress Committee and later became the secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee. 

He joined the BJP before the 2017 Assembly elections and now, has returned to the Congress on getting the Congress Lok Sabha seat from Mandi.

Strength: His strength is that he is a young and dynamic leader. Not only this, he has a strong political legacy.

Weakness: Overly ambitious and a party hopper .

Image in public:  Too brash and ambitious because of whom his father Anil Sharma had to resign from the Jai Ram Cabinet after he managed a Congress ticket despite being in the Bharatiya Janata Party. He is more like his grandfather than his father, Anil, who is respected as a thorough gentleman, a victim of family circumstances.

(With contribution from Lalit Mohan, Ambika Sharma and Bhanu P Lohumi)

Top News

Arvind Kejriwal to be produced before Delhi court today as 6-day ED custody ends

Excise policy case: Delhi court extends ED custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till April 1

In his submissions, Kejriwal said, ‘I am named by 4 witnesse...

Delhi High Court dismisses PIL to remove Arvind Kejriwal from CM post after arrest

Delhi High Court dismisses PIL to remove Arvind Kejriwal from CM post after arrest

The bench refuses to comment on merits of the issue, saying ...

‘Unwarranted, unacceptable’: India on US remarks on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest

‘Unwarranted, unacceptable’: India on US remarks on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest

MEA spokesperson says India is proud of its independent and ...

Bullying Congress culture, no wonder being rejected: PM Modi, backs senior lawyers who flagged attempts to undermine public trust in judiciary

Bullying Congress culture, no wonder being rejected: PM Modi

Backs senior lawyers who flagged attempts to undermine publi...

Gujarat court sentences former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt to 20 years in jail in 1996 drug case

Gujarat court sentences former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt to 20 years in jail in 1996 drug case

Bhatt, who was sacked from the force in 2015, is already beh...


Cities

View All