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In Himachal Pradesh, it's all about former chief ministers

SHIMLA: With real issues almost missing from the campaign, over 53.30 lakh voters in Himachal Pradesh will decide the fate of 45 candidates in fray for four parliamentary seats on May 19. The primary contest, however, is between BJP and the Congress. Prestige of three former chief ministers, along with incumbent Jai Ram Thakur, is at stake as both the parties claim to be sweeping all four seats.




In 2014, when the Congress was in power in the state, it had faced a crushing defeat as BJP won all the four seats. This time, the BJP is in power both in the state and the Centre. To make matters worse for the Congress, BJP is campaigning as an united force while the opposition party is struggling to bring its flock together.

The BJP has graduated from its claims of “Modi wave” in 2014 to “Modi Tsunami” this time and is confident of retaining all the four seats. It has entrusted each parliamentary seat to a senior leader — former CM Prem Kumar Dhumal is heading the campaign in Hamirpur, former CM and sitting MP Shanta Kumar in Kangra, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur in Mandi and other senior party leaders are heading the campaign in Shimla. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Smriti Irani and Rajnath Singh have extensively campaigned for BJP candidates.

The Congress, however, has failed to organize an effective campaign this time. It is trying to rake up failed promises of 2014, including scheduled tribe (ST) status to Hatti community of Sirmaur district and increasing import duty on apples.

Senior party leaders such as Virbhadra Singh , Anand Sharma , Kuldeep Singh Rathore and Mukesh Agnihotri are campaigning in the state but infighting among factions has posed a huge challenge for the party. During campaigning, many Virbhadra comments have left the party red-faced.

The contests in Kangra, Hamirpur and Mandi will be close due to changed political equations this time. Mandi, traditionally a seat for royal scions, has former Union minister Sukh Ram’s grandson Aashray Sharma as the Congress candidate and BJP is expecting an easy contest after Virbhadra Singh and family decided not to contest.

The battle between Aashray and BJP’s sitting MP Ram Swaroop Sharma, two Brahmin candidates, will decide the futures of former CM Virbhadra Singh and former Union minister Sukh Ram, and incumbent Thakur. The three politicians have strongholds in this constituency.

In Kangra, caste equations have made the electoral battle interesting, with the BJP opting for cabinet minister Kishan Kapoor, the Gaddi community leader from Dharamshala, and the Congress for Kangra MLA Pawan Kajal, an OBC. Other castes such as Rajputs, Brahmins and SCs will play a decisive role here. The Congress campaign in Kangra is being spearheaded by Virbhadra Singh and his loyalists.

In Hamirpur, three-time MP Anurag Thakur is contesting for the fourth time on BJP ticket and Congress has fielded Naina Devi MLA Ram Lal Thakur, who lost three elections and is trying his luck for the fourth time. The Congress campaign is led by leader of opposition Mukesh Agnihotri and former state president Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

In Shimla, BJP denied ticket to sitting MP Virender Kashyap and decided to field Pachhad MLA Suresh Kashyap instead. The Congress has fielded two-time former MP and Solan MLA Col Dhani Ram Shandil from the seat that has been a traditional bastion. However, the BJP has won here in 2009 and 2014.

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