Ram Swaroop destroys Sukh Ram’s citadel

Dipender Manta
Tribune News Service
Mandi, May 23

BJP candidate and sitting Mandi MP Ram Swaroop Sharma has devastated the political citadel of Pt Sukh Ram, former Telecom Minister, in the Mandi parliamentary constituency. 

Sukh Ram had represented this constituency as Congress MP thrice in 1984, 1991 and 1996. In this General Election, he had fielded his grandson Ashray Sharma from Mandi on Congress ticket to prove his political dominance once again.

However, Ram Swaroop defeated Ashray Sharma by a margin of 4.05 lakh votes. He was polled  6,47,189 votes while Ashray got 2,41,730 votes.

Ram Swaroop has created history by winning the Mandi seat with such a huge margin. In 2014 polls, he had contested against Congress leader Pratibha Singh. Despite the Congress regime in the state and at the Centre, Ram Swaroop had managed to defeat Pratibha Singh and his success brought him in the limelight in political circles. 

Interestingly, Ashray was polled less votes in Mandi, which is considered the stronghold of his family since 1962. 

Sukh Ram had represented Mandi Sadar as MLA seven times, while his son and former Power Minister Anil Sharma has represented this Assembly segment as legislator four times. 

Political analysts said ‘Aaya Ram Gya Ram’ politics cost Sukh Ram’s family dear this time. In the last Assembly elections, Sukh Ram along with his son Anil had joined the BJP and the latter won the elections from Mandi Sadar. This time Sukh Ram joined the Congress just before the Lok Sabha poll and managed to get party ticket for his grandson Ashray. The decision, however, did not go down well with voters of Mandi and they voted for the BJP candidate.Headgline to come here Headline to come here

Modi, Thakur factor work for him

BJP workers burst fire crackers and distributed sweets to celebrate the win of Ram Swaroop Sharma. Political analysts said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur factor had favoured Ram Swaroop. Modi had addressed a public meeting in favour of Ram Swaroop on May 10, which gave a momentum to the BJP campaign in the Mandi parliamentary constituency.

The CM had also worked hard in this constituency to seek the support of voters. Mandi is the home district of the Chief Minister and during the entire election campaign, he had made an emotional appeal to the voters that it was a matter of their honour. 

Scripting history 

• Former Telecom Minister Sukh Ram had represented the Mandi constituency as Congress MP thrice in 1984, 1991 and 1996. 
• In this General Election, he had fielded his grandson Ashray Sharma from Mandi on Congress ticket to prove his political dominance once again.
• However, Ram Swaroop defeated Ashray Sharma with a huge margin. He was polled 6,47,189 votes while Ashray got 2,41,730 votes.
• Sukh Ram had represented Mandi Sadar as MLA seven times, while his son and former Power Minister Anil Sharma has represented this Assembly segment as legislator four times. 
• Political analysts said ‘Aaya Ram Gya Ram’ politics cost Sukh Ram’s family dear this time.