Intensive campaigning is on in Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. It is not only about sending one member to Parliament. It’s about saving Jai Ram Thakur’s position as the Chief Minister of the State.
The BJP’s sitting MP Ram Swarup Sharma is seeking re-election from the seat. He is a low-key person who is not seen as a strong candidate even by the BJP’s own supporters and is banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to see him through.
First-timer
His opponent Ashray Sharma, is a first-timer who is relying on his famous grandfather Pandit Sukhram’s legacy.
Sukhram, a former Telecom Minister, hit the headlines in a corruption case in 1996.
He has switched from the Congress to the Himachal Vikas Congress to the BJP and then back to the Congress. Ashray Sharma’s father Anil Sharma till a few weeks back was Power Minister in the BJP government. He resigned from the position but not from the BJP yet.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur is a legislator from Seraj Assembly, which falls under the Mandi Lok Sabha constituency. If the BJP loses the seat, his own position will become uncomfortable. He has confined himself to the constituency and is canvassing hard.
At Marathu village in front of a dozen people the BJP candidate criticises Pandit Sukhram and his family’s political opportunism.
He mentions how Pandit Sukhram breaks down at rallies seeking votes for his grandson.
“Pandit Sukhram pleads for forgiveness for all his sins to seek votes for his grandson. This family cries only to seek power for themselves,” he says.
After praising Prime Minister Modi to the skies, he tells the audience to remember at the time of casting their vote that this is a “rashtravadi ki ladai hai” or “fight for nationalism.”
Fresh re-entry
Ashray Sharma got nominated from Mandi just two days after he joined the Congress. He claims he returned to the party because under Congress president Rahul Gandhi it is more democratic.
To ensure Mr. Sharma’s victory Pandit Sukhram putting differences aside pleaded forgiveness from his bete noire Congress stalwart Virbhadhra Singh.
Their meeting was nothing but a photo opportunity. Mr. Singh, even when he came out to campaign for Mr. Sharma, endorsed him but at the same time made a sly remark about his grandfather’s “ayya ram gayya ram” referring to his record as a defector.
The voters are keeping both sides guessing. Ramesh Kumar, ex-havildar, who belongs to the Yadav community says, “Ram Swarup dhilla aadmi hai par agar top main kaam karne wala aadmi hoga toh junior sab kaam karenge,” (Ram Swarup is a weak candidate but if you have a strong man at the top then juniors will automatically be forced to work).
Mr. Modi’s supporters also argue that a vote for the Congress would mean voting for “khicdi sarkar” with PM aspirants fighting among themselves.
The Prime Minister held a rally in Mandi on May 10 and sought to connect with the audience, talking of the famous saipu wadi, a local delicacy.
At the end the results will depend on whether or not Mr. Modi manages to tilt the scales in BJP's favour.
