Caution is the key-word for Cong in HP polls

The Congress, which was first to finalise its poll strategy this time, proposes to involve senior central leaders in the campaign and scores of former ministers and sitting (even defeated) MLAs have been assigned specific duties. Party leadership knows it well that unless Congress wins all the four seats, the balance of power still would remain in the hands of HVC — which is contesting one Assembly seat of Lahaul-Spiti as part of the poll pact with BJP.

Three other seats, viz Kinnaur, Bharmaur and Pragpur, had gone to the BJP. The BJP cannot afford to lose more than one seat (out of three) to stay in power. “We know how significant these elections are for us,” admits Khushi Ram Balnatah, BJP general secretary, just as CLP leader Virbhadra Singh is also determined to give a tough time to the rivals.While the nominations for three seats in the tribal belt had already been filed by the nominees (alongwith other Assembly polls in February last), the process for filing of nominations in Pragpur would start next month. The BJP has decided to field Nirmala Devi, widow of Virender Kumar, BJP MLA, who died before the poll results. The Congress proposes to retain its previous candidate Yog Raj, who had lost to late Virender Kumar by over 1,200 votes. This reserve Assembly seat had traditionally been a BJP bastion and still continues to be so, unless something grave happens. In Kinnaur, the BJP-HVC has succeeded in persuading S. C. Negi, potential nominee of HVC to retire from the contest and support Chet Ram Negi of the BJP. The Congress had re-fielded its sitting MLA Jagat Singh Negi, who faces an uphill task because of the prevailing resentment against him. The Congress also faces rebellion in the area as Rattan Manjri, a prominent local leader had also filed her nomination papers. The Congress leaders arenow trying to persuade her to retire in favour of its candidate.

The Lahaul-Spiti constituency, will also witness a triangular contest as besides Congress’s new face Raghubir Singh Thakur, another party leader Ravi Thakur was also in the fray. The BJP had decided to retire its nominee in favour of HVC. The seat earlier had been with the Congress but the sitting MLA, then Minister of state for tribal development Phung Chug Rai was denied the ticket. Rai, a Virbhadra Singh loyalist, however, has decided to campaign for the party.

The position in Bharmaur, where Congress has fielded sitting MLA Thakur Singh Bharmauri, is also tough. Former BJP MLA Tulsi Ram will be locked in a direct fight. The state government, in order to woo the people of the area had held a state-level Himachal Day function and announced concessions for the employees posted in the tribal belt. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had visited Bharmaur and Kinnaur.

In Mandi, the fight would be much interesting as Pratibha Singh, wife of former chief minister Virbhadra Singh was the Congress nominee. After Sukh Ram having decided to retire in favour of BJP’s Maheshwar Singh, the contest had narrowed down between Maheshwar Singh and Pratibha Singh. Virbhadra Singh was already campaigning in the area and he had deputed over a dozen former ministers and sitting MLAs. The BJP also would add to its tally in Delhi.

More so, the results of the Assembly polls and Lok Sabha would be a “mini-referendum” on the BJP-HVC alliance. The BJP is also keeping its fingers crossed over the impact on the alliance in the event of Sukh Ram resigning from the state ministry.