A PhD scholar, notary, woman contractor: the many independents in fray in Himachal

The parliamentary elections will be held on four seats – Kangra, Mandi, Hamirpur, and Shimla (SC) – in Himachal Pradesh during the last and seventh phase on June 1. There is no independent candidate in Shimla Lok Sabha constituency.

“After completing my PhD in agricultural economics from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in 2002, I moved to Canada with my family to earn a livelihood. I am a staunch follower of Dr B R Ambedkar (the chief architect of Indian Constitution). I returned to India after quitting my job at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) in 2013 to fulfill my dream, which is bringing about socio-economic equality in all sections of society, especially among the deprived and exploited group. It is the need of the hour. I firmly believe this reform can be achieved through electoral politics. I was born and brought up in the small Bardam village of Kangra district, and so I have decided to start my political journey from there. Initially, I was associated with a national party but later decided to contest elections independently,” Dr Kehar Singh, who is standing as an independent from Kangra parliamentary constituency, told The Indian Express.

Kehar Singh’s wife and children are in Canada. He had unsuccessfully contested the 2019 parliamentary elections on a ticket from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) from Kangra. In 2022 Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha elections also, he contested from Jaisinghpur assembly constituency independently but without success. Kehar Singh is among four independent candidates contesting from Kangra this time. He has disclosed in the poll affidavit his assets which are worth Rs 3.65 crore.

If Kehar Singh aims to bring about socio-economic equality in society, another independent candidate Ramesh Chand Sarthi, who introduced himself as a self-made man, says, “I want to remove poverty from society. Had I been born in a rich family, I would have been at another level today.” Sarthi, who holds a Bachelor of Legislative Law from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) in Shimla, has filed his nomination from Hamirpur parliamentary constituency, where Union Minister Anurag Thakur had been winning for the last four consecutive terms. The Congress has fielded Satpal Singh Raizada from this seat.

Fifty-year-old Sarthi says, “I come from a poor family. My mother used to clean houses in Gindpur village. Throughout my life, I faced poverty. Many a time I had cleared written tests for jobs but couldn’t reach the interview venue due to lack of money. I want to create a system, at least in my Hamirpur constituency, wherein every graduate receives a stipend to cover job application fee, entrance test preparations, and travel expenses to examination centres and interview venues.” A registered notary, Sarthi has assets worth approximately Rs 31 lakh. This includes a joint house (co-owned by father, brothers, and others) worth Rs 30 lakh.

In 2022, Sarthi had attested admission forms of hundreds of youths who came to attend an Army recruitment camp in Una district without charging a single penny from them.

Sarthi is among five independents contesting from Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency.

Also, 52-year-old Rakhee Gupta is fighting as an independent from Mandi parliamentary constituency. A building contractor from Jawharnagar in Mandi district, the trigger for Rakhee Gupta to enter electoral politics was the poor condition of roads and streets, and lack of civic amenities in her native place.

Rakhee Gupta says, “I have a long list of things to do once I come to power. I don’t talk big, but I will ensure that basic facilities are provided and improved upon than before in Mandi parliamentary constituency.”

Rakhee Gupta, who is a 12th pass, has absolute support from her husband, Santosh Gupta, who too is a building contractor. Santosh Gupta, who stands like a rock behind Rakhee, says, “Yesterday, my wife was allotted an election symbol which is an apple. My wife belongs to Chamba district. We have started campaigning. Our entire parliamentary constituency needs a representative who does not align with any political party and will work independently for the welfare of the people.” It’s a high-stakes battle in Mandi as Congress’s Vikramaditya Singh, who is also the state PWD Minister, and BJP’s Kangana Ranaut are contesting from there.