Dhumal keeps cool image intact

BAIJNATH, Nov 23: Although Prem Kumar Dhumal has not been able to get a free hand in power ever since he became the chief minister of Himach...

BAIJNATH, Nov 23: Although Prem Kumar Dhumal has not been able to get a free hand in power ever since he became the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh eight months ago with the alliance sword hanging over his head all the time yet he has remained casual and composed before the people. And even now when he is facing an acid test of his coalition governance and political acumen in the Baijnath by-poll, he carries the same cool image.

The BJP Chief Minister, who has literally been forced to campaign for Shanta loyalist Dulo Ram in the Baijnath by-election against his own choice of Indu Goswami, has been working in the assembly segment with his team of ministers but apparently with no urgency at all in his approach to get the things done for the BJP.

Against the efforts of his rival Congress leaders camping in Baijnath, his election schedule has in no way been loaded heavily as he also joined active electioneering in the last leg of campaign for the crucial by-poll. Dhumal8217;s statement at an election rally in Langu village in Baijnath segment recently that 8220;Baijnath by-election will in no way affect any major development in Himachal, especially in the context of the BJP-HVC coalition, as the Baijnath seat was earlier with Congress only, and if Congress takes away the seat again, it would hardly make any difference, speaks more about his easy-going mood.

Dhumal, in fact, had a golden chance this time to cement the lingering rift with the Shanta camp by uniting the two rival groups in Baijnath constituency dominated by the Shanta clout. Yet he remained unmoved in this regard and, instead, took along his own supporters in the cabinet into confidence for entire electioneering while subtly overshadowing the presence of the Shanta men in the area.

As comments a staunch Dhumal loyalist, accompanying the Chief Minister at his all election rallies, 8220;Dhumal is the BJP leader in the state now and he has to plan the things in the interest of the party together with the BJP president Suresh Chandel8221;. However, electioneering by the Chief Minister made mention of the tenure of former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar and role of HVC president Sukh Ram as a coalition partner.

Dhumal has also not shown any keen union8217; with BJP candidate Dulo Ram., and has virtually pushed him and his links to the background in the BJP campaign. 8220;It is our eight months8217; governance which would bring victory to the BJP in the Baijnath by-poll. The other factors will not have much impact. and even the sympathy factor of Congress will not work, it happened in the Pragpur by-poll, too, when people had come out in great numbers to vote for the BJP rule,8221; he claimed in a recently held press conference in the area.