Attempts by the ruling Congress party in Himachal Pradesh to break into the BJP bastion by fielding a woman candidate proved futile as Anil Dhiman of the saffron brigade won the Bhoranj assembly seat. He defeated Promila Devi of Congress by a margin of 8,290 votes in a five-cornered contest
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who had backed Promila Devi with all his might, was quick to react saying the seat was never a Congress stronghold and the BJP’s victory should not be seen as a mandate for the party in next assembly elections.
The result, just a few months before the assembly elections in the State, has, however, left the BJP in a jubilant mood. Buoyant, the party is now gearing up for the Shimla Municipal Corporation elections due next month.
The by-poll was necessitated by the death of sitting six-time MlA ID Dhiman of the BJP. He was representing Bhoranj in the State assembly from 1990 till his demise on November 15, 2016
The BJP candidate defeated his nearest Congress rival, Promila Devi by 8,290 votes. Dhiman was polled 24,454 votes against 16,144 votes polled by Devi while Pawan Chandel, a BJP rebel who contested as an Independent, polled 4,630 votes.
This is the second victory of saffron party in the by-election held in the hill state after losing power in 2012. Earlier to this, BJP had improved its tally in state assembly by winning Sujanpur by-election in 2014.
Banking on his father’s political legacy, Anil Dhiman also ensured that the factions within the BJP worked for him. BJP rebel Pawan Kumar Chandel could get only 4630 votes. However, his rebellion might have reflected on the winning margin of Dhiman.
The Congress detractor Ramesh Dogra with 974 votes could hardly attract the voters as an independent.
With the victory, BJP has given a new turn to the debate on the prospects of both the ruling Congress and opposition BJP. Congress, which had been looking quite strong with its populist announcements in recent months, may have to relook its strategy, as the defeat of its candidates, who was specifically supported by the Chief Minister, definitely reflects that the political equations for Congress party may not be that easy for repeating the Government in the state.
BJP’s victory in the by-election has given a boost to the supremacy of former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal in the party and the winning margin may be quite helpful for him to cool down the dissident voices in the party.