Poll outcome of Kangra, Mandi regions to decide Himachal's fate

Kangra: Whoever wins Kangra forms the government. This is a common saying in Himachal, making the contest in the state’s largest district with 15 assembly segments especially important. What has made the November 9 election even more interesting is that Congress is giving a tough fight in BJP’s bastion.

Thanks to rebellion by BJP functionaries in at least five assembly seats in Kangra district, Congress is turning out to be a formidable opponent.

In 2012, Congress had swept Kangra, winning 10 of the 15 seats. In 2007, BJP had won nine seats and formed the government.


Traditionally, Kangra has been the borough of BJP veteran Shanta Kumar. BJP is facing rebellion in Palampur, where former MLA Parveen Kumar is openly challenging the official candidate, Indu Goswami, who is considered close to the PM. Goswami, who is contesting her first election, was BJP Yuva Morcha vice-president when Modi was state in-charge in mid-1980s.

Though Shanta Kumar was angry over his loyalist being overlooked for Goswami, he still went to Parveen Kumar to ask him to stand down. In a video, which has since gone viral in the state, Kumar is seen breaking down in front of his 83-year-old guru. He, however, is contesting the election.

In Fatehpur, two BJP rebels, Baldev Thakur and Rajan Sushant, are openly challenging the official candidate, Kripal Singh Parmar. BJP is trying hard to keep its flock together. There were early signsof rebellionin Nurpur, where Ranveer Singh Nikka had threatened to file his nomination papers, but he was summoned to Delhi and decided to follow the party high command’s diktat. In Jawali and Dharamshala, rebellions were quelled with the help of central leaders.

The only assembly segment in Kangra where Congress is facing a challenge from within is Shahpur, where known Virbhadra Singh detractor, Vijay Singh Mankotia, has challenged Congress’ official candidate, Kewal Singh Pathania.

If Congress has stolen an edge in Kangra, it is in a tough spot in the second largest district of Mandi, with 10 assembly segments. The district is a stronghold of former Congress leader Sukh Ram, who floated his own Himachal Vikas Party in 1998.

Sukh Ram’s son, Anil Sharma, who was in Virbhadra Singh’s Cabinet, has now quit the Congress and joined the BJP. Political watchers expect this to have an impact in the region. What has queered the pitch for the Congress is the presence of a rebel candidate.