Will Congress find appropriate candidate for Lok Sabha election in Kangra?
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The Newz Radar
DHARAMSHALA: With the Lok Sabha elections round the corner, the opposition BJP in Himachal Pradesh has been diligently working at the grassroots level for the past three months to connect with the voters. The ruling Congress leaders in Kangra, on the other hand, seem to be engaged in a competition to prove their proximity to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu rather than promoting his policies and vision in public.
Chief Minister Sukhu has articulated a vision that includes resource mobilisation, support for orphans and transforming Himachal into the tourist capital of India. Additionally, the emphasis on revenue courts is a big relief for the general masses. But unfortunately, the party leaders have fallen short in effectively communicating and marketing these policies in the region.
Amidst the uncertainty, a faction within the Congress is advocating for RS Bali to contest the Lok Sabha election from Kangra constituency, while others have been favouring Gokul Butail. However, neither Butail nor Bali have expressed their willingness or engaged in public discourse for this. The only visible Congress member actively preparing for the LS polls is Dr Rajesh Sharma who, despite losing the Assembly election from Dehra, managed to elevate the Congress graph in the region. He held medical camps in Chamba and organised press conferences in Dharamshala.
Recent speculations about Chief Minister Sukhu’s visit to Congress MLA Sudhir Sharma’s residence in Dharamshala hinted at a cabinet induction, which turned out to be false. Could this be a prelude to the LS elections? Possibly, as groundwork is often laid through such approaches, says an analyst.
As the BJP gears up to ride the wave of the Ram Mandir inauguration in Ayodhya, the Congress appears to be grappling with internal indecision and lack of cohesive strategy. While the BJP has a lineup of eager candidates seeking tickets, the Congress leaders, both elected and unelected, seems reluctant.
Compared to the BJP’s active engagement on social media, some Congress leaders are considering staying away from the LS polls. Talks are also underway in a group of BJP to field an IAS officer as a candidate.
