Political battles drawn in Himachal Pradesh

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By : Mohan Verma

Political parties have made their election battles almost clear as this hill state was going to have multi-corner contest. Candidates of BJP, Congress, CPIM, AAP, BSP and Shiv Sena has already announced most of them are already filling their nomination started since April 14, as state goes to poll on May 7.

It is not clear whether except BJP and Congress winnability is so easy for the candidates of other political outfit but with multi-corner contest it could turned the apple cart of main stream parties in this hill state.

The most high profile contest in the state is going to be held at Hamirpur where son of former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and sitting BJP Lok Sabha MP is in fray but state government is putting its entire weight to change the equation in its favor by any means.

Congress have to rely Dhumal protégée Ranjinder Singh Rana pitted in the fray after repeated debacle of party for last many elections. AAP has put Mrs. Kamal Kanta Batra (mother of Kargil hero Capt. Vikram Batra), in the fray keeping in mind the highest population of ex-servicemen and home of large number of serving armed forces personnels.

AAP prospect have some brighter side as it is the most literate parliamentary segment and is having highest women electorates (even more than men). Mrs. Batra already sought support of ex-servicemen who were virtually split in three groups are likely go with AAP, BJP and Congress.

After returning of Narinder Kumar Thakur, son of former BJP stalwart Late Jagdev Chand into BJP has brighten the saffron party scope to repeat on the seat. But Virbhadra Singh about Octogenarian Chief Minister is trying to concentrate on Congress campaign in Hamirpur district.

Mr. Singh also played trump card recently after giving befitting reply to saffron party by persuading former BJP MLA’s daughter-in-law Urmil Thakur into Congress who would be projected as Congress candidate for Sujanpur by-election, which are also going to be held simultaneously along with LS elections as this seat fell vacant after resignation of Mr. Rana.

On the expected line BJP gave ticket of by-election to Narinder Kumar Thakur for Sujanpur bye elections, denying it to Mrs. Thakur. Now the combat between Mr. Thakur and his sister-in-law is likely to affect LS elections equation in favor of two parties.

But being a most literate LS segment people could also vote against BJP and Congress for its hypocrisy and fence seaters who had crossed the party for sake of power. Mrs. Batra who is in the fray for first time is likely to be fatal to both BJP and Congress.

Political experts are of view that part of Dharampur Assembly segment also fall in Hamirpur LS seat could dent BJP hard as sitting BJP MLA
and former minister Mahinder Singh Thakur could have won by just about 1000 votes in the assembly as he had to face internal fighting from
Dhumal camp.

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ML Verma is a Senior journalist, with more than a decade of experience of active reporting for electronic media, news agencies and fast paced online media.

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