Amitabh
Shukla | Shimla/Hamirpur
It
may be a “no wave” election, but the Congress in Himachal Pradesh is looking at
an “honourable defeat” rather than a second consecutive term for Virbhadra
Singh, popularly known as Raja Sahib in the hill State.
As
campaigns ended on Tuesday, the debate in the Congress circles was limited to
how many seats would the party consider as “honourable defeat”. There was
unanimity that if the grand old party won 25 of the 68 seats, the honour of the
party and its leadership would remain intact and its cadres would have
something to look for in the future.
The
BJP, on the other hand, is excited, thrilled and is anticipating a massive win.
Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur told The Pioneer that the party was on its way to get
54 seats. He cited several numerological statistics for the Number 9 which is
lucky for party's Chief Ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal. This included
the time when his name was announced as CM face of the party, the date of birth
of Dhumal and many aspects related to the 73-year-old two time Chief Minister.
“Numerology
is one thing. But the sheer absence of governance in the last five years from
the Himachal hinterland was the main factor which is propelling the BJP and has
given it a major momentum,” the MP said. “Just go and see the development
indices-roads, drinking water…and you will realise how badly the Government has
performed,” said the three-time MP, who is himself addressing eight-nine
meetings in a day.
What
is helping the BJP is the involvement of veteran Shanta Kumar in the Kangra
region which has 16 seats. In the 2012 Assembly polls, Kumar was not happy with
the ticket distribution and did not campaign effectively and BJP won just 3
seats.
“This
time, he is whole heartedly involved and there would be a four-fold jump in the
number of seats in the Kangra region,” a senior party leader, adding “dramatic
improvement in Kangra itself would take us beyond the magic number”.
The
lower hills, considered to be the bastion of BJP due to the political charisma
of Dhumal and Thakur, is behind the party as usual. People in the belt from
Punjab border of Himachal, which is from Una to the interiors of Hamirpur, do
not even hide their political inclinations.
“Just
see this fluttering flag and you will realise which way the wind is blowing,” said,
Nafe Singh, a 45-year-old shopkeeper of Bhota, pointing towards the Lotus flag
of the party on top of his shop. His friend Prem Sharma too echoed the same
sentiments. “We are sniffing a wave here for the party”, Sharma added.
The
BJP has carpet bombed the entire State with a series of political rallies of
Prime Minister Narendra Modi where he has continuously targeted Virbhadra for
corruption and inefficiency. This has found traction even amongst the Congress
sympathisers. Then several rallies by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, UP Chief
Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister Smriti Irani and others in every nook
and corner of the State has built the momentum.
“It's
a BJP Government in the Centre and we need a BJP Government in the State too to
reap the benefits. It's not a question of merely change of Government. It will
benefit every Himachali,” said Monu, a 25-year-old driver who claims he is not
committed to any party but would vote as per the situation. “And undoubtedly,
this time, the situation demands that a BJP government comes to power,” he
added.
In
the upper hills, Shimla district and the apple belt, the area from where
Virbhadra hails from, there is a no antipathy towards the six-time Chief
Minister. “He is a doer and is popular in the belt. He will win hands down in
Arki despite changing his constituency,” said Mahesh Inder a 60-year-old small
dhaba owner on the main Arki road. Himself a BJP sympathiser, Inder has
appreciation for the work style of “Raja Saheb”. “He is accessible and also has
the charisma associated with royalty in this part of the State,” summed up the
dhaba owner. His son, who assists him in work, nods in agreement.
But
Virbhadra Singh is fighting a lonely battle-all alone. The support from the
party has been minimal. “He is putting in 15-16 hours a day in campaigning and
that too mainly by road,” summed up an aide.
In
the Congress Bhawan on Cart Road in Shimla, the mood is still upbeat as there
are areas designated for campaign in social media, researchers are sitting and
analysing speeches and the young cadres and professionals are trying their best
to counter the BJP juggernaut.
“We
are giving a tough fight in each and every seat. You name a seat and we are
there,” said Harish Bafna from AICC in New Delhi, coordinating electioneering
in the hill State. A team of researchers and AICC observers spread in all 68
constituencies is briefing their bosses in Shimla on the developments to
prepare a counter strategy.
But
in the State, there is a gradual agreement that the last political battle for
Virbhadra Singh would simply be a farewell function for him and his dream of
becoming the Chief Minister for the seventh time would remain in the realm of
dream only. (November 8, 2017)
No comments:
Post a Comment