Virbhadra Singh: clearly calling the shotsThis seems to be one state where Congress President Sitaram Kesri could come for a holiday, and actually relax. For this is the one state where, thanks to the political acumen - and manoeuvring - of outgoing chief minister Virbhadra Singh, the Congress is comfortably placed as far as the assembly elections in February are concerned. So much so that it has its main opponent, the BJP, fighting with its back to the wall.For Singh, the trick lay in dissolving the 68-member Assembly on December 24, a whole year before its term actually ends. Now, timed as the assembly elections have been to coincide with the parliamentary snap polls, he stands to reap the benefits of his strategy.Consider this: in the last Lok Sabha elections, the Congress had bagged all four seats in Himachal Pradesh, polling a record 52 per cent votes, 12 per cent more than the BJP. In the Assembly, Singh had 52 seats, compared to the BJP's seven.In February, when Singh's political prowess is put to the test once more, he will not only benefit from the goodwill that the party already has in the state but will also be pre-empting any negative impact of the Lok Sabha elections on his party's state prospects. As he says, "In this gamble, advantages outweigh the risks." Slim Chance: Ram (left) will not really affect the Congress while BJP's Kumar is hit by factionalismBesides, Singh has the BJP just as he wants it: fragmented and jittery. And the party's leaders know it. "Not getting our act together would be suicidal and mean handing over power to the Congress on a platter," laments BJP stalwart and former chief minister Shanta Kumar. "Even Sukh Ram's party has overtaken us." As a matter of fact, the feud between Kumar and the BJP state unit chief Prem Kumar Dhumal is mainly responsible for fissures in the party. Given this condition, the party petitioned against the polls. As of now, the BJP has been reduced to depending on a "third force" led by the former Union communications minister Sukh Ram and his Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) to divide the Congress votes.Having anticipated the Lok Sabha polls, Singh has been quietly giving shape to his strategy: he hit the road two months ago, while keeping the Opposition on tenterhooks about his plans. And the sops, including the regularisation of 10,000 casual employees, too have been generous. Most of the benefits, significantly, have been confined to the lower Himachal areas, the BJP'S stronghold, and Mandi, the home district of Sukh Ram, whose ragtag party has been poaching on the Congress vote bank. .preferred-source-banner{ margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom:10px;}With OBCs comprising 12 per cent of the electorate and a decisive factor in at least 11 assembly constituencies, Singh has also raised the number of jobs reserved for them in the Government from 15 to 18 per cent. The support price of apples too has been raised.The only problem that now stands in Singh's way is the allotment of tickets for the poll - one sure way of making way for dissension in the party. Apart from looking out for the HVC, that is - Sukh Ram's party could affect the Congress' margins in at least 16 assembly segments. As former chief minister and a Singh-baitor in the Congress, Ram Lal, says: "Sukh Ram's potential to win is doubtful but his capacity to mar chances of the Congress cannot be underestimated." If that's taken care of, Singh just may be on his way to a fourth term in office.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Jan 12, 1998--- ENDS ---
