It’s over one year that Himachal Pradesh Congress and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh have been putting all their might to wrest the BJP stronghold Hamirpur parliamentary seat, which has eluded Congress for over 16 years but now with elections round the corner, the big question is on whom the ruling party will bet on.
The Congress is still undecided whom to field from the politically hot seat, from where the Opposition has been calling shots. State election screening committee has finalised three names for the seat, Chief Minister loyalist Ram lal Thakur, Barsar MlA Inder Dutt lakhanpal and Independent MlA Rajendra Rana after Virbhadra Singh’s backing.
Virbhadra Singh has openly voiced his support for Independent MlA from Sujanpur, Rajendra Rana for contesting the seat to which State Congress has said that party does not favour him and openly declared that no 'outsiders' will be given ticket. Rana a one-time protégé of former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had contested the 2012 Assembly elections as independent after being denied ticket by the BJP. Virbhadra’s camp think that there will be nothing to loose for the party, if Rana looses or if he wins polarising the BJP votes, it will add to the strength of the party.
When HPCC president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu was made State chief a year back despite losing the Assembly election from Nadaun, also falling in Hamirpur parliamentary seat, it was clear that national leadership was also focusing on politically hot seat in the State. AICC general secretary and State in-charge Ambika Soni in her maiden visit had also made it clear that party has to put all its effort to wrest the Hamirpur seat. Hamirpur is currently represented by former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal's elder son Anurag Thakur is the national president of BJP's youth wing Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and also heads now controversial Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA).
After assuming power, the State Government had unleashed a series of enquiries against HPCA and Anurag Thakur in person which till now has not resulted in anything favorable for the ruling party. The message was loud and clear that Thakur is being targeted despite Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh claiming that no political vendetta is being practiced.
"The midnight coup ordered by the State Government to take over properties of HPCA and cancellation of leases in October last, which was later stayed by the High Court has only boomeranged for the Congress, as the move made the intent clear that how State Government was in a hurry to unsettle Anurag Thakur from HPCA and Hamirpur," said a senior BJP leader.
Thakur was quick to respond and took the matter to court of people, saying how injustice was planned against him and succeeded in creating sympathetic ripples for himself. Anurag Thakur had won Hamirpur parliamentary seat with a margin of 1.5 lakh votes in a bye-election in 2008 after his father Prem Kumar Dhumal vacated the seat and became Chief Minister. The winning margin for Thakur was later reduced to 73, 000 votes in 2009.
Some senior Congress leaders think that as far as win-ability is concerned, the only leader party has and could challenge the fortress of BJP is State Industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri. According to sources, the central election committee of Congress in its last meeting held earlier this month has indicated to the State leadership that Agnihotri may be contesting the election from Hamirpur.
This had set the alarm bell ringing in the Virbhadra Singh camp as Agnihotri also stands one of the staunch supporters of Chief Minister. Agnihotri who is also Parliamentary Affairs Minister was hurriedly rushed to Delhi with a letter of Chief Minister to central leadership due to which he was absent on the last two days of budget session that he cannot be spared from the State. On Thursday, central election committee of Congress is again meeting to discuss the names of candidates and final announcement is likely. Meanwhile, according to sources, Sukhu has also backed the candidature of Agnihotri from Hamirpur.