It was for the second time that Pratibha Singh won Mandi parliamentary seat, thanks to his better-half and six time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who had turned 79 years old on the day of polling for the by-election.
It was more than a win at stake for Virbhadra Singh as the loss on Mandi seat vacated by him after he became Chief Minister could have indicated loss of popular support to him due to which he managed to win 11 of the assembly segments of Mandi in assembly polls held in December last.
But like a seasoned politician, he left no stone unturned and in absence of any star campaigner for the by-poll, he took all responsibility to ensure win for his wife and held over hundred rallies. He sought birthday gift from the people of Mandi parliamentary constituency in the form of votes for his wife, as the day of voting was June 23, the day of his birthday.
He struck an emotional chord with the rain ravaged Kinnaur district which is his traditional vote bank by calling the entire district as his second home as his ancestors from Rampur-Bushair royal family used to rule the area.
Virbhadra Singh had scored a lead over BJP when he started his campaign from tribal Bharmour constituency at the time when neither the Congress nor BJP had announced the candidate.
With no powerful candidate at hand, BJP grappled to find a suitable candidate who could have challenge the might of Singh, and had to field a youth candidate and four times MlA from Seraj Jai Ram Thakur against Pratibha Singh who was unanimous choice for Congress.
Initially, Thakur had openly gone on to say that he is not willing to contest against Pratibha Singh and BJP parliamentary board had to intervene to name him among the four names panel terming him as most suitable candidate.
Since the day of taking his charge as Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh had kept his eyes on Mandi seat and had made four cabinet ministers and two chief parliamentary secretaries from the entire parliamentary constituency and entrusted them crucial responsibilities during the polls for mobilizing the voters.
Singh known of playing his political cards well, even promised to the people of Mandi during campaigning for by-poll, that one vacant post of cabinet minister will also be filled from Mandi district itself keeping the two MlA brothers of a royal family at toes and making them work for Congress.
In the last leg of campaigning and days before the rain fury hit the Kinnaur district, Virbhadra Singh openly declared that Pratibha Singh’s victory is certain but he is campaigning for the amount of lead which baffled the BJP leadership as uncertain voters were also likely to make up their mind for voting for a winning candidate.
Though low voter turnout in Mandi had made Virbhadra Singh little bit disappointed but he was sure of party’s win. After polling, he had said, “What can we do, people got busy with ploughing as it rained heavily the previous night of polling but still margin will be enough to ensure our win.”