The election results of four Municipal Corporations (MCs) in Himachal Pradesh have proved a morale booster for the opposition Congress and a cause of introspection for the ruling BJP, despite BJP’s impressive win in Mandi MC in the home district of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.
The state Congress, which was lying low for quite some time after successive defeats in the last Assembly and Parliament elections has sprung a surprise by winning Solan MC and sweeping polls in Palampur MC . Its performance in Mandi and Dharamshala MC by bagging four and five seats respectively has not been up to the mark.
Though Congress leaders worked hard on the ground level but factional fight among senior leaders was also witnessed at many places. In Dharamshala tussle between former minister Sudhir Sharma and former Mayor Devinder Jaggi also cost the party and the majority candidates fielded by Sharma lost the election.
Similarly, in Mandi MC the open fracas between Kaul Singh Thakur’s daughter and Sukh Ram’s grandson in public rally gave the voters a wrong signal. It was also evidently clear Kaul Singh and Sukh Ram the two senior leaders of Congress were more anxious in propping political carriers of their family members than ensuring Congress’s win. The personal reputation of Congress winners in Mandi Rajinder Mohan and Alka Handa definitely helped in their win.
The election management of Sujanpur MLA (who had defeated Dhumal in the last Assembly election) in Solan MC was just remarkable as he had ensured Congress’s win despite BJP’s well organized campaign by expert election manager and former minister Rajiv Bindal. Palampur MLA Ashish Butail’s ground work is also commendable to ensure Congress’s win in the home town of BJP’s stalwart Shanta Kumar and other important BJP leaders.
But election results have a word of caution for the Congress leadership too; the party leaders would have to shun personal politics and work cohesively for the next Assembly election as Virbhadra Singh may not be campaigning actively.
The voters of Mandi have also given a signal that Sukh Ram’s family cannot take the voters for granted for promoting family’s politics by frequently changing parties.
For the BJP the election results are definitely a signal for introspection as the voters through MC elections have shown their resentment too to some extent. Though the party is euphoric about its victory in Mandi and in few other local bodies’ election but they will have to work hard to maintain its hold on the voters.