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CoverStory POLITICS

hough Himachal hills are snow- RACE FOR even a single seat will matter in the next
ing, political corridors are heating parliamentary elections. In the 2014 Lok
up. The reason is BJP’s defeat in TICKETS BEGIN Sabha elections BJP had won all four seats
T crucial states of Chhattisgarh, with comfortable margin riding on strong
Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Lok Both the ruling BJP and opposition Congress Modi wave. However, Congress leader
Sabha polls are nearing day by day and have started the exercise to finalise the in the state Assembly Mukesh Agnihotri
this defeat has put breaks on BJP’s hopes candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elec- said that there is nothing like Modi wave
of winning all four state Lok Sabha seats tions. Many meetings have taken place. There now. “He (Modi) has failed in delivering.
riding on Modi wave. Three state’s defeat is a possibility that BJP will change at least People have fed up of his false promises.
indicates that Modi wave has somehow two candidates. Former Chief Minister Shanta His decline is visible from results of three
faded now and coming Lok Sabha elec- Kumar, who is MP from Kangra (85) while the assembly elections.” Agnihotri, who is also
tions will not be a cakewalk for them. performance of Shimla MP Virendra Kashyap is the leader of the opposition in the state
State BJP has planned a big function to considered to be poor in the party. Interestingly, assembly, said that Congress will give
celebrate the completion of one year of former Union Minister Sukh Ram, who along winning faces in the elections and the
party’s government in the state. Last year, with his minister son Anil Sharma have joined party will win all four seats with the help
BJP won whopping 44 seats out of total BJP just a few days before the 2017 assembly of Rahul wave.”
68 seats and gave Congress the biggest elections, is pitching for his grandson Ashreya. The lone CPM legislator in state as-
defeat in the last two decades. But three Sukh Ram has a hold on Brahmin, voted in sembly Rakesh Singha also talked to this
state’s defeat has soured BJP’s taste to hold Mandi constituency. In Hamirpur, the ticket correspondent on the issue. He said right
one-year celebrations. Prime Minister of Anurag Thakur is considered to be sure as from farmers and youth to a common
Narendra Modi is expected to attend these he is strongest among all. However, the name man, everyone is in distress. “The Modi-led
functions to be held at Dharamshala. of his father former CM Prem Kumar Dhumal NDA government have failed miserably
BJP leaders are now looking defensive. is also doing the rounds. In the Congress also to deliver. Farmers of the state are facing
Earlier they were claiming that party will the picture is not clear. Former Chief Minister great hardships but BJP government in
sale through easily in 2019 Lok Sabha polls Virbhadra Singh’s name is doing rounds from the state have also been silent on this
against “weak Congress. In the last four Mandi seat. However, he himself has not shown issue. Agriculture and Horticulture is the
and half years, there is a pet slogan which his willingness to contest. backbone of the state economy and both
BJP leaders say when there is any discus- are facing bad times.”
sion of elections, “hamare paas modi hai” State chief minister Jai Ram recently
(we have Modi brand). They used to say chief minister. gave plum posts of chairmen and vice
that we will work on the ground and two Tehelka also talked to state BJP chief Sat- chairmen to his party leaders to reduce
public meetings of Modi will ensure their pal Satti on the current political scenario dissent in them. However, state BJP still
victory in the elections. in the state keeping in view that recent is divided into factions. There is unrest
But, now the body language of BJP defeat of the party in the assembly elec- among the BJP leaders over chief minister
leaders have suddenly changed. They are tions. Satti said that this defeat will make Jai Ram efforts to choose his home area for
looking defensive. The BJP government no impact in the state. “No, no. Why this major projects including the airport. Few
led by first-time chief minister Jai Ram will have any impact in Himachal. In two in the party feel that this may cost heavy
Thakur have not delivered that much states our governments were in power for for the party in the coming Lok Sabha
which people of the state were expecting the last 15 years. Maybe some anti-incum- polls. Jai Ram is the first leader from Mandi
from this young and a man with a clean bency there. But despite all these factors district, who has become chief minister of
DEFEAT PUTS BJP problems. They have already announced Satti. seems to be divided into factions. Though
the state.
image. Farmers are agitating to solve their Congress have not to win on its own,” said
On the other hand state, Congress also
The former chief minister and senior
gherao of state Assembly during the
budget session.
BJP leader, Prem Kumar Dhumal, who de-
old stalwart Virbhadra Singh is not a chief
spite defeat on his seat in the last assembly minister now, he still has influence among
The crime rate is also rising day by day
in this hilly state which is known as ‘Dev
the party MLAs and leaders. On the other
elections, have succeeded in keeping
ON BACK-FOOT? Bhoomi’. The drugs have also become a himself in the mainstream BJP politics, hand, Pradesh Congress chief Sukhwinder
Sukhu is a known rival of Singh. In the
serious issue in the state. Even chief minis- while talking to the Tehelka claimed that
fight of these two, leader of opposition
BJP will win all four seats in the coming
ter Jai Ram himself has expressed serious
elections. “The performance of our state
Mukesh Agnihotri is emerging as a strong
concern on the rising number of drug
cases. Tehelka talked to him on this issue
and he said that he is personally worried government and pro-people policies of leader. Though Sudhir Sharma is also
considered to be close to 10 Janpath, who
Modi government will help us in winning
Three state’s defeat in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh has soured BJP’s taste to hold a lot on this issue. “We have taken many the polls,” added Dhumal. lost his assembly elections in 2017.
steps on this issue in the last one year. We
Though Himachal has a very small share
one-year celebrations in the queens of hills, Himachal Pradesh, reports RAKESH ROCKY hope that things will change soon, said the of four Lok Sabha seats, many feel that LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM
TEHELKA / 31 DECEMBER 2018 20 WWW.TEHELKA.COM TEHELKA / 31 JANUARY 2017 21 WWW.TEHELKA.COM
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