The electoral pitch for the Bhoranj by-poll has started to heat up, as the Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh himself accompanied the Congress nominee Promila Devi on Tuesday, to file her nomination for the by-election to be held on April 9.
The first election in the state, after the demonetization in November last, has turned into a matter of prestige for both the parties as the ruling Congress has to test the pulse of anti-incumbency in the state. The BJP, on the other hand, has the challenge to retain its stronghold from tilting towards the ruling party as well as to gauge the success of demonetization in the state.
After the filing of nomination by Promila Devi, CM Virbhadra Singh said that the people of Bhoranj would pay back for the development carried in the state during the four years of Congress rule.
Addressing first election rally before the by-poll in Bhoranj, Virbhadra Singh said that regionalism should not hamper the progress of the state and Congress in its rule had given equal boost to the development of the state.
The Chief Minister said that the party was working united to win the by-poll and there was no factionalism in the party.
The Congress put a united face with state party president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu joining Virbhadra Singh in his rally at Shambhu Taal. HPMC chairman Prem Kaushal, whose candidature was replaced with Promila Devi too, remained present along with Industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram Shandil and Youth Congress president Vikramaditya at the rally.
After filing her nomination, Promila Devi said that Congress had performed well in the state in last four years, and she was assured that people would stand by the party in the by-poll.
As the Chief Minister made claims of unity in the party, moments after the rebellion surfaced from within. Ramesh Dogra, the former candidate of Congress from Bhoranj, filed his nomination as an independent candidate. Ramesh had been among the seekers of Congress ticket from Bhoranj constituency.
Ramesh Dogra’s rebellion against Congress has brought the party on an equal footing with BJP as the party also faced rebel from Zila Parishad member Pavan Kumar, who had filed nomination against BJP candidate Dr Anil Dhiman.
Taking a dig at the claims of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, leader of opposition, Prem Kumar Dhumal said that the ruling party was scared of a defeat before the assembly elections in the state.