Electoral battles are fought to be won but Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh praising his one time arch rival and now BJP candidate from Kangra, Shanta Kumar has left the Congress candidate and former MP Chandra Kumar puzzled.
Virbhadra Singh, who started his poll campaign for party candidate a week back, has in half a dozen rallies at Solan, Shimla, Mandi and Hamirpur, praised former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar calling him a 'man of values' to criticise another former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, whom he had called a 'dictator'.
The praise by Chief Minister of Kumar has not gone well with the party cadres and Chandra Kumar could be seen mustering support for himself in the constituency. "This question of why he is praising Shanta Kumar should be asked from Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh but I am doing my work and currently meeting people at block level," said Chandra Kumar.
Even Congress Cabinet Ministers Sudhir Sharma, GS Balli and Sujan Singh Pathania are hardly canvassing for the party candidate and had till now not held a single meeting at least in their respective constituencies in favour of Chandra Kumar.
Both Balli and Pathania had never shared cordial relationship with Chandra Kumar and there had always been a fight of supremacy for the biggest leader of district but what is surprising the people is the absence of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh loyalist Sudhir Sharma, who is lying low till now.
"Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has already asked the Ministers to canvass for the party's official candidate and now it is their choice, whether they support happily or sadly but they have to get lead margin in their respective constituencies, in favour of party candidate," said sulking Chandra Kumar adding that if they do not get so, then there may be a rethink on ministerial portfolio.
Meanwhile, State party leadership also seems to be annoyed with the comments of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in public rallies, where he is praising BJP stalwart Shanta Kumar. "After all this is election and one needs to be very careful in his remarks especially, when party's stake are involved," said a senior party leader of party refusing to comment.
The leader said positive remarks for Shanta Kumar by a Chief Minister is taking toll on the morale of workers and they are facing uphill task to muster support for the official Congress candidate. On other hand, BJP had already taken a lead on Congress in announcement of candidates and declared Shanta Kumar as candidate from Kangra in its very first list and by the time Congress candidates were announced one round of campaigning by BJP leaders was over.
The party cadres of BJP were rejuvenated with the announcement of Kumar, as candidate in anticipation of bolstering of party prospects in Kangra district. Several heavyweight turncoats have recently joined BJP and party is putting a united front against Congress under the unifying leadership of Shanta Kumar.
Congress leadership in Kangra is now strongly banking on the visit of chief minister Virbhadra Singh in first week of April, when he will campaign in each of the 17 Assembly constituencies, alongwith Chandra Kumar.