Shimla: What looked to be a calk-walk for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in two assembly bypolls is turning out to be a tough triangle contest at Pacchad and Dharamshala, slated to be on October 21.
The poll holds much significance for the BJP, which has seen a generational change in the leadership --a shift from two BJP veterans --Shanta Kumar and Prem Kumar Dhumal. Thus, the BJP is not taking risks in the campaign to see Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur carving-out his own space.
While rebel – Dayal Pyari, an independent woman contestant, is keeping the party at its toes at Pacchad – a seat having fallen vacant on election two-time MLA Suresh Kashyap to the Parliament, the BJP's path at Dharamshala is not as smooth as it had expected.
The only advantage to the BJP is from the Independent candidate Rakesh Chaudhary, an OBC leader, queering the pitch for BJP's Vishal Nehria at Dharamshala, also taunted as 'mini-capital' of Himachal Pradesh because of Kangra – a district with 15 assembly constituencies, and BJP's influence.
While the Congress has already sent its senior leaders – Mukesh Agnihotri, who is also Congress legislature party leader (CLP), Asha Kumari, a former minister and five-time MLA, Ajay Mahajan, former MLA, Rajender Rana, a sitting MLA and PCC general secretary Kewal Pathania to Dharamshala to back-up campaign in favour to Vijay Inder Karan, the BJP looks far ahead of the Congress in terms of mass mobilisation. Notwithstanding this, former minister Sudhir Sharma, a former Dharashala MLA, is nowhere visible except his posters and banners recently put-up by the candidate. Sharma's decision not to contest the bypoll has caused a major blow to the Congress. With Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur also expected to join on Saturday, the BJP hopes to add big momentum to the campaign.