Bhoranj To Test Dynasty Politics

Himachal This Week Team(cover story)

Both the main political parties are engaged in an interesting tussle in the Bhoranj bye-election where polling is scheduled on April 9 even as the din of electioneering stopped on Friday. This seat fell vacant after the demise of former BJP minister and six times MLA ID Dhiman. The ruling and opposition leaders adopted every method of electioneering to woo the voters in their favour and now it is up to the electorate to decide the fate of candidates. Bhoranj, notably, has remained a strong bastion of the BJP for last 27 years. The Congress is trying hard to wrest this seat from the opposition in a bid to gain momentum ahead of upcoming general assembly elections later this year.

divyahimachal.com Opinion Poll

Will Dynasty Again Rule In Bhoranj Assembly Segment

There have been allegations of practicing dynasty politics in both the political parties. Divyahimachal.com also conducted an online opinion poll asking, Will dynasty again rule in Bhoranj assembly segment? The opinion poll indicates that electorate are seemingly drifting away from dynasty politics. If Bhoranj bye-election result is on similar lines, then leaders carrying on or trying to promote dynasty politics need to be careful in future, feel political observers.

Yes  –  45%

No  –  50%

Don’t Know  –  5%

* 45% voters still favoured dynasty politics

* 50% voters were against dynasty politics

* 5% voters remained indecisive about the same

Virbhadra Versus Dhumal Battle

 Mastram Dalel

Notwithstanding the hectic campaigning undertaken by candidates, the Bhoranj bye-election is turning out to be a battle between Chief Minister Virbhadra  Singh and Leader of Opposition  Prem Kumar Dhumal. The verbal warfare has further intensified  between the Congress and BJP leaders after the recent developments in ED and CBI cases against Chief Minister.

Claiming full support of the Congress high command, Virbhadra Singh said that he would not resign just to please the BJP. “The BJP should be ready for a battle in upcoming general assembly elections rather than trying to destabilise the government, he said, adding that opposition was under the illusion that present Congress would fall. Alleging that people coming to his public meetings were not only stopped but also being threatened, Virbhadra Singh said such forces are enemies

of democracy. He said that Punjab Chief Minister can answer about action taken against Dhumal’s factory in Jalandhar. On the other hand, Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal said that Centre can dissolve a state government under difficult circumstances.

In addition, the Cabinet can also recommend for dissolution to the Governor who can take action under constitutional process. Denying that he has any property in Jalandhar, Dhumal asserted that he is ready to face any investigating agency as nothing will come out of it. Holding Congress responsible for promoting dynasty politics, Leader of Opposition said that Congress was targeting their own leaders by raking up the issue of dynasty politics in Bhoranj bye-election.

* The BJP should be ready for a battle in upcoming general assembly elections rather than trying to destabilise the government

-Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister

* Congress was targeting their own leaders by raking up the issue of dynasty politics in Bhoranj bye-election

-PK Dhumal, Leader of Opposition

Congress Questions Dynasty Politics

Raising the issue of dynasty politics in Bhoranj bye-election, the Congress leaders are targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party as to why it provided benefit of seat reservation only to one family for 27 years. Why couldn’t the BJP find another candidate to break the tradition of dynasty politics in this assembly segment, they questioned while addressing nukkad meetings during electioneering. Claiming that Congress was getting overwhelming support from all areas of the constituency, they alleged that there is a difference between the saying and doing of the BJP. The BJP didn’t field any woman leader from here even as many woman leaders had applied for the party ticket, they claimed.

Candidates Speak

* The BJP is only concerned about votes of women and its leaders remember electorate at the time of polling

-Promila Devi, Congress Candidate 

* I will follow my father’s footsteps in carrying out developmental works in this assembly segment

-Dr. Anil Dhiman, The BJP candidate

Candidates

Name                     Party

Dr. Anil Dhiman              BJP

Promila Devi                  INC

Kusum Azad                  Independent

Pawan Kumar                 Independent

Dr. RameshChand Dogra     Independent

What Leaders Say…

* All 36 Congress MLAs are united and no party MLA or worker is in touch with the BJP

-Sukhwinder Sukhu, HPCC President

* The wind of change is clearly visible in Bhoranj. The BJP leaders make promises only to fetch votes

– Rajinder Rana, Vice Chairman, State Disaster Management Board

* The Congress party is disintegrating in entire country and its MLAs are joining the BJP

-Satpal Satti, State BJP President

* The BJP will win with a thumping margin as electorate will reject the tired Congress party in Bhoranj

-Anurag Thakur, BJP MP

Canvassing….

The Congress candidate Promila Devi and (below) BJP candidate Dr. Anil Dhiman seeking votes in Bhoranj bye-election.

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