The unprecedented mandate given by the people of Himachal to BJP in Lok Sabha elections reminds the 1977 elections. Even during Janata Party wave, the mandate to the party in Himachal was not as massive. Its a history and for the first time pro incumbency strong massive mandate is recorded. Not even. golden period of Congress raj, a landslide pro incumbency was ever seen.
The BJP's massive margin of victory in all four LS seats underlines how intense was the undercurrent. It explains the popularity of PM Modi plus CM Jairam Thakur. No other factor mattered and all skirmishes were swept away by Modi plus Jairam 'tsunami". In fact ,Congress was nowhere in the game right from the beginning. Party couldn't find suitable candidates well in time. Top leaders were not inclined to contest. There was a dearth of candidates and party had to hijack defectors. All candidates, except Ashray Sharma, were literally dragged into the contest.
By opening its doors to defectors, Congress showed its rank weakness. Moreover, except ex-CM Virbhadra Singh, no charismatic leader was there to match BJP tall leaders. Leader like Anand Sharma, Mukesh Agnihotri and PCC president Kuldeep Singh Rathore were hardly any match to Jairam Thakur, Shanta Kumar And PK Dhumal trio. Anand Sharma has never been a mass state leader. He was brought up and educated in Shimla because his father was in HP govt service but does not belong to the state. As such, he doesn't know how tough is life in rural Himachal, He once confessed to me that his urbane and outsider background has hampered his political career. He has risen to his current stature by courting Congress top leadership, even Dr. Y.S. Parmar and Virbhadra Singh. Anand Sharma just contested once in assembly elections from Shimla but lost to then BJP stalwart Daulat Ram Chauhan. And so is PPCC president Kuldeep Rathore. He is a Anand Sharma courtier and that's his only qualification to become state Cong chief. He has never fought any election. CLP leader Mukesh Agnihotri is no better, His base is only confined to his constituency, Haroli and this time BJP got massive lead from there.
You can manipulate party tickets, ministerial birth but not the mass base. It has to be created, build and nurse by working in field. Sooner, the Congress learns it, better for the party. With this background, there was hardly any contest in Himachal. So the severe drubbing of the party is nothing unusual. What is worse for the party is that it couldn't secure a lead in just one constituency, out of 68, not even in Rampur and Mandi sadar. It stands totally decimated.
Chief Minister, Jairam Thakur has proved he is sitting pretty on rock solid home turf. Nearly 70 percent vote share of BJP in Himachal is far better than others states where party clean swept. Its better than, Haryana, Delhi , Uttarakhand and other states. Modi plus Jairam Thakur popularity has sunk the Congress boat (not ship) deep. It will take long time for the party to float aloof.
(Chander Sharma)
(Chander Sharma)