Both the BJP and the Congress had the Central Election Committee meetings at Delhi but worry lines were drawn and sweat trickled on the face of ticket aspirants at Shimla. The BJP committee was to take call on Mandi seat, while Congress committee was to take call on all the four seats.
Ticket aspirants kept dialling their political masters at Delhi and Shimla but were annoyed to know the delay in their fate. Then came numbers of journalists of national media groups who were contacted by the anxious lots to see whether their names featured at all in the discussions of Election Committee or not. “We would have been happy had the tickets were announced today as we have to cover the entire constituency spread through tough topography,” said one of the anxious ticket aspirants.
In poll season, wishes pour in on women’s day
With polls round the corner, no one wants to leave any stone unturned in politicking. Many sitting MPs are contesting the election and many are having anxious wait for the tickets. Earlier they hardly remembered what March 8 meant. But with elections on head, politicking is gradually picking up pace in the hills. Everyone tried to do their best to woo the women of the state, comprising nearly half of the total voters. Press releases were circulated in media houses with a request to publish the greetings of International Women Day, with picture of lok Sabha candidate or potential candidate in order to record their sensitivity. Only if the sensitivity lasts longer.
Jai Ram Thakur plays pivotal role
Considered a dynamic BJP leader, former Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister, Jai Ram Thakur, is playing a pivotal role in bringing back the aggrieved party leaders back to the party fold. Joining of BJP by Dulo Ram, former MlA, who had joined the Himachal lokhit Party, has sent shockwaves to Maheshwar Singh, the founder of HlP. This happened with joint efforts of former Union Minister Shanta Kumar and Jai Ram Thakur. last minute efforts are on to bring back Maheshwar Singh to the BJP where he has reportedly a bright future, but he was adamant in not joining the party. Shanta Kumar and Dhumal had made repeated efforts, to assuage his hurt feelings and appealed to “forgive and forget” the bitterness caused to him reluctantly. In fact all the BJP leaders who had gone to Maheshwar Singh’s party were being wooed to come back to the BJP. In the wake of Modi wave it will be an uphill task for Maheshwar Singh to keep his herd with him intact, his critics argued. BJP leaders of Mandi are still hopeful of Maheshwar Singh coming to his parent party which he nursed for three decades.
Sukhbir’s media management
Shiromani Akali Dal is depending upon professionals and experienced “media persons” to handle their election campaign. Jangveer Singh, who gave up his job to join Punjab government as Media Adviser to the Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal in the Government is now, ahead 2014 general elections, joined SAD president, who is also Sukhbir Badal, as his media adviser. Obviously, he could not have worked for the SAD President when the Model Code of Conduct was in force. In the process, he has given up the Cabinet rank attached with his post. He was not the only one. Another former senior journalist of Malwa region, Harjinder Sidhu, who was also appointed as assistant media adviser to Deputy Chief Minister recently, has resigned from the post, and was appointed as Assistant Media Adviser to SAD president. A day before, Adviser to the CM on Media and National Affairs Harcharan Bains has also relinquished his post to join the SAD poll campaigning. No wonder, Sukhbir manages the media so well!
The Return of Mann
After hanging his boots in November 2012 for “lack of funds”, former IPS officer Simranjit Singh Mann is back in the electoral battleground for 2014 lok Sabha polls. Mann, known as an active supporter of Khalistan, has decided to once again test the political waters from Khadoor Sahib lok Sabha constituency against SAD candidate Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, the former Cabinet Minister. He was an MP from the seat (Tarn Taran) long time back and now out of the memory of voters.
(Contributed by Manohar lal, Kishori lal and Monika Malik)