Will Himachal CM Sukhu’s wife take on BJP’s Anurag Thakur

TNR Desk

As the Congress gears up for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Himachal Pradesh, all eyes are on the crucial Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Delhi on Tuesday (March 19, 2024).

The meeting is set to focus on finalising election candidates and shaping the party’s manifesto. From the Himachal perspective, the meeting is crucial as Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and state unit president Pratibha Singh are already in the capital.

The Central Election Committee (CEC) will convene to deliberate on potential candidates for the state’s four Lok Sabha seats, building on the shortlist forwarded by the State Election Committee (PEC).

Among the contenders, the spotlight is on Hamirpur, the home turf of Chief Minister Sukhu and Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri, where no consensus emerged during the recent PEC. More so as the BJP has won the seat for eight consecutive terms. Union Minister Anurag Thakur, who has won four terms, has been fielded the fifth time.

As the ruling Congress struggles to find a strong candidate, the party could even bet on Chief Minister Sukhu’s wife Kamlesh Thakur to challenge Anurag Thakur. Such a move would add an intriguing dynamic to the electoral landscape, potentially reshaping the contest in the constituency.

The PEC has put forth a list of potential candidates, including sitting MLA Vinod Sultanpuri for the Shimla Lok Sabha seat, besides former MLA Sohan Lal, zila parishad member Kaushal Mungta and Congress SC morcha state president Amit Nanda.

In Kangra, former Education Minister Asha Kumari’s name features prominently, alongside sitting MLA RS Bali, though the latter’s candidacy remains uncertain due to political turmoil within the party. In Mandi, Pratibha Singh’s candidacy appears finalised, with former minister Kaul Singh Thakur standing as a potential alternative should she opt out.