Congress has pulled out all stops to win four LS seats in Himachal Pradesh. Party President Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi, his sister Priyanka Gandhi along with many other leaders from across the country have reached Himachal and are appealing to make the party win.
The seats of two prominent Congress leaders Anand Sharma and Vikramaditya Singh have become matters of prestige.
Congress considers victory crucial not only to safeguard the Himachal government from crisis but also to steer clear of discussions on caste politics in the region. Despite holding a majority, Congress faced defeat in last year’s Rajya Sabha elections, leading to internal discord within the party.
Although the party managed to salvage its government, the threat still looms. All six MLAs who resigned are now contesting by-elections on BJP tickets, presenting a significant challenge for Congress to secure victory in six assembly seats alongside the Lok Sabha elections.
Mandi seat has become the hottest seat. The equation here has become quite intriguing. Former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh’s son and current state government minister, Vikramaditya Singh, is contesting for this seat, while the BJP has nominated film actress Kangana Ranaut as its candidate. This has added an interesting dimension to the election for this seat, which was traditionally considered to be held by Virbhadra Singh’s family. However, in both the 2014 and 2019 elections, the BJP managed to secure this seat with a significant margin. In the 2021 by-election, Pratibha Singh successfully reclaimed the seat for Congress. Although she is not contesting this time, her son Vikramaditya Singh is standing as her replacement.
The statements made by both leaders have intensified the election atmosphere.
All eyes are on the Kangra seat, where Congress has nominated senior party leader and former Union Minister Anand Sharma to contest against BJP’s Rajiv Bhardwaj. In Hamirpur, BJP has fielded Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur against Congress’ Satpal Raizada. Meanwhile, in Shimla, Congress has put forward Vinod Sultanpuri to challenge sitting MP Suresh Kashyap. Overcoming the significant margin of victory secured by BJP in the last two Lok Sabha elections, which exceeded three lakhs, poses the biggest challenge for Congress.
Priyanka Gandhi’s active campaigning in the Lok Sabha elections mirrors her efforts during assembly elections. However, the party’s morale has been dampened by the humiliation faced in the Rajya Sabha elections. Despite Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu’s efforts to boost the party’s performance, Congress lacks a prominent face against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Priyanka Gandhi’s effectiveness in this role will be revealed on June 4.
Priyanka Gandhi has urged the people to elect an honest government in Himachal Pradesh, highlighting the absence of BJP leaders during times of crisis and emphasizing Congress’ commitment to serving the state.
She has invoked the legacy of Indira Gandhi, praising her leadership qualities and contributions to the nation, including her role in creating Himachal Pradesh, strengthening the army, and spearheading the green revolution. Leaders from Rajasthan have been assigned key roles in Himachal Pradesh, reflecting the party’s strategic approach to the elections.
