With the revolt in Rajasthan coming as a big jolt, a jittery Congress is going all out to keep its flock in Himachal Pradesh together to fight the forthcoming state assembly elections.
The party’s Central Election Committee (CEC) headed by Sonia Gandhi has decided not to deny tickets to any of its 20 sitting MLAs, keep PCC president Pratibha Singh—former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh’s wife out of the contest and leave everyone guessing on the Chief Ministerial face.
Naming a Chief Ministerial face could lead to infighting in the party and spoil its electoral prospects in the BJP ruled state
Only a month back, two sitting MLAs—Pawan Kajal (Kangra) and Lakhwinder Rana (Nalagarh) had resigned from the party and joined the BJP. There could be a few more waiting for an opportunity to embrace the BJP. The party leadership has decided to play it safe and give tickets to all sitting MLAs. A few ageing members will now be accommodated as they are not willing to give-up their seats for younger leaders.
Insiders say 40 names were cleared in the CEC meeting, held in New Delhi after a two-tier exercise done by the party observers for the elections to the 68-member state assembly.
The CEC, in its meeting on Tuesday, could not decide who should be contesting from the Theog constituency in the apple belt. Former PCC president Kuldeep Rathore is lobbying hard to enter the electoral contest but faces stiff opposition from within the party.
Prominent figures whose names have been approved include former minister Kaul Singh Thakur, an eight-time winner of the state assembly elections and former minister. Some sections also see him amongst Chief Ministerial faces as he hails from Mandi – home district of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.
No decision could be taken on the candidature of three former ministers – Sudhir Sharma ,Thakur Singh Bharmouri and Kuldeep Kumar—a Virbhadra Singh loyalists.
Leader of opposition Mukesh Agnihotri and state Congress Campaign Committee chairman Sukhwinder Sukhu—both front runners for Chief Ministerial post will contest from their traditional strongholds of Haroli (Una) and Nadaun.
Another contestant to be watched will be Vikramaditya Singh, sitting MLA and son of Virbhadra Singh, who got elected to the assembly from Shimla (Rural). Earlier Virbhadra Singh had represented this constituency.
Though, Congress believes that it will get a natural advantage of past trends about people alternating between the BJP and Congress, after five years. Yet, this time a huge disadvantage remains in the absence of any credible leader leading the campaign as had happened when Virbhadra Singh was alive.
Among it’s the party’s Central leaders neither Rahul Gandhi nor Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has any meaningful contact with the people of the state, despite Priyanka having built a house in Shimla. Her visits ironically are primarily private affairs.
This is the reason why the BJP leaders feel Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dominate the election campaign and help the party win, as he treats Himachal Pradesh as his second home.
Modi is arriving for the third time at Bilaspur on October 5. He is slated to inaugurate Rs the 1500 crore AIIMS project –a dream project of BJP national President J P Nadda in his home town. The Prime Minister also plans to participate in the historic Kullu Dussehra, which is a symbol of religious faith and ancient traditions for the people of Kullu valley.
