Congress trying to tilt the scales but BJP is formidable

The seat had fallen vacant after the death of BJP candidate Virender Kumar a day before the declaration of the election results, two and a half months ago, that had gone in his favour. The late BJP leader had defeated Congress opponent Yograj for the third time consecutively with a margin of over 1200 votes.

The same Congress candidate is now the fray against Virender’s wife Nirmala Devi, who has been given the ticket by the BJP solely with the objective of cashing in on the “possible sympathy wave” for her. The contest is, though, three-cornered with Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Bhagat Ram in the fray, his presence may remain unfelt as the BSP has a poor record of getting only 218 votes in the main assembly election.

The Congress camp is, however, hopeful of snatching the seat from the BJP with former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and other senior Congress leaders making all efforts to fill up the missing links in the party rank and file and take the rebel section, led by a ticket claimanant Preetam Sheria, along as it was considered the main reason of defeat last time.

However, the field reports are not very encouraging for the Congress nominee Yograj as he still faces the wrath of a good number of people, including Congressmen, for his “high-headed tones while in power once in late eighties”. “The party may work for him at one platform, but it is difficult to convince the individual Congress workers and the people to give him another chance”, comments a Congressman from the Dhaliara area, which is supposed to be the stronghold of Congress party in the entire Paragpur constituency.

The victimisation of employees and his poor personal rapport with the ordinary masses in routine affairs are considered to be the biggest drawbacks of the Congress nominee.

The BJP campaign, on the other hand, centred around the “upper-lower”area psyche in the state again and the party leadership, including Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, is trying to use the sweeping results of Kangra, Una and Hamirpur against Congress discrimination in the main election as an evidence in this regard. BJP candidate Nirmala Devi, who has been a panchayat pradhan, is though not seemingly aware of the nitty-gritty of Vidhan Sabha level politics, but going by her bland election speeches and approach, she is definitely going to get advantage of the good image of her late husband and general sympathy. “Virender could not do much for Paragpur segment during his long tenure as MLA due to several reasons, but he put in sincere efforts and was never hostile to anyone,” say voters in different areas of Paragpur.

Issue of the backwardness of Paragpur segment during the long Congress rule in the past, is going to help the BJP. Even as Virbhadra Singh is able to gather good crowds in his election rallies, the electorate carry bitter feelings for the Congress. The callous approach of the Congress government towards the fruits growers of this area where mango and citrus are produced in plenty, has left them full of bitterness. The Congress government did not do anything substantial to boost the fruit economy here.

Dearth of link roads in the rural segment and lack of other basic facilities, discrimination is granting compensation to about 50 families of Paragpur which suffered great losses in the Chirgaon tragedy last year, have emerged as poll issues here.

Above all, the personal commitment of BJP leader Shanta Kumar to move out in the field in support Nirmala Devi carries weight. As Virender was his staunch loyalist, the Paragpur by-election has instilled a sense of responsibility among the BJP cadres.