CM Jai Ram Thaku predicts easy win in Mandi, Fatehpur, Arki
Confronted with the challenge of four byelections amidst the Covid pandemic, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has an onerous task at hand. However, confident of comfortable victory in at least three of the four bypolls, polling for which will take place on October 30, he feels elections are fought on development and not emotive issues. As the campaign for the bypolls for the Mandi Lok Sabha and three Assembly segments of Arki, Fatehpur and Jubbal-Kotkhai concluded, in an interview with Pratibha Chauhan, he outlines the plans he has for the last year of his regime. The excerpts:
With campaign over, how do you see BJP’s prospects in the four bypolls?
I am confident that the BJP will do well. In Mandi, we will register victory with a handsome margin while in Arki and Fatehpur, our candidates will win by comfortable margins. As far as Jubbal-Kotkhai is concerned, the BJP chances have improved despite the presence of a rebel.
Sympathy alone not enough
I want to make it clear that elections are not fought on emotions but on concrete issue like development. We too have a lot of regard for Virbhadra but sympathy alone is not enough. Maybe, people in some parts of Rampur, Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti vote out of sympathy. — Jai Ram Thakur, CM
Do you think issues like price rise and unemployment can work against the BJP?
The Congress desperately tried to make price rise its biggest weapon against us as the major poll plank but failed miserably. People are very wise and understand that this is a peculiar situation arising due to Covid pandemic. They know that both Central and state governments have tried their best to keep the wheels of development moving despite severe constraints and challenges due to Covid.
Do you feel the Congress will be able to ride high on the sympathy factor, especially in Mandi with his wife seeking votes as a tribute to Virbhadra?
I want to make it clear that elections are not fought on emotions but on concrete issues like development. We, too, have a lot of regard for Virbhadra but sympathy alone is not enough. Maybe, people in some parts of Rampur, Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti vote out of sympathy but then the same sentiment will be at play in Mandi, from where I hail. The BJP, too, can have sought sympathy votes as our sitting MP Ram Swaroop, who had won by a record margin of about four lakh, had passed away. But we desisted from doing so.
Do you feel the poll results will be a reflection on your four-year rule?
Yes, to some extent the results will be a referendum on our four-year rule with 20 Assembly segments going to the polls in one go. Hypothetically, if the Congress does well, the party will get an impetus for next year’s Assembly poll. However, I would like say that one year is a very long period and the situation can change drastically either way.
With just about one year left for the 2022 Assembly poll, what will be your regime’s agenda?
There are several tasks that we would like to accomplish. This includes roping in some major investment from the private sector for which a ground-breaking ceremony will be held shortly. Also, I would like to see progress on the ambitious project of an international airport at Nagchala in Mandi. There are several such schemes, which we will unfold in the coming days.
In case of an adverse outcome in the bypoll, do you feel any threat of a leadership change?
In the first place, there is no chance of the BJP not doing well in the bypoll. Even if hypothetically, we assume that the BJP does not fare well, there is no question of a change in leadership as my government is very stable and there are no issues against me. I will abide by any decisionof the top leadership in the interest of the party.
