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Journalism of Courage
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Tuesday made a prediction but it was not about the impending election. Five years later, he said, Himachal Pradesh will have a Dalit chief minister. Replying to a question on the BSP8217;s poll prospects, Singh said the party8217;s talk of uniting the oppressed wouldn8217;t work because unlike in other states, the Dalits were not a deprived lot in Himachal Pradesh. But, he added, 8220;One thing I know. Himachal8217;s next chief minister will be a Dalit.8221;
The chief minister said the Congress would soon start grooming one of its Dalit leaders who could be their chief ministerial candidate in the 2012 elections.
He took no names but said that during elections, he would point out the need for projecting a Dalit as the next chief ministerial candidate.
The Chief Minister8217;s announcement8212;just a day before he proceeded on a 20-day long campaign8212;is likely to stir up things a bit in both Singh8217;s Congress as well as in the BJP. Himachal Pradesh has usually had Rajput chief ministers with the exception of Shanta Kumar, a Brahmin.
The state8217;s first chief minister Dr Y.S.Parmar, a Rajput, was succeeded by Thakur Ram Lal and then Virbhadra Singh
The BJP8217;s Shanta Kumar became chief minister twice but his government did not last long. In 1998, Prem Kumar Dhumal became chief minister and now the BJP has once again named him as its chief ministerial candidate.
So, what prompted the chief minister8217;s long-term talk? Some say it8217;s his attempt to block discussions on his successors, others says it8217;s to counter the BSP who has chosen a Rajput, Major Retired Vijai Singh Mankotia, as its chief ministerial candidate.
