HP poll would be acid test for Sukh Ram

DAINIK NATION BUREAU

Former union minister Sukh Ram, who has won many elections from Mandi, political competence is on test this time because he has been trying to shape up his son anil sharma’s future by donning BJP hat. As we know that he had merged his party with BJP just before assembly election date announced by the election commission.

The BJP has fielded Anil Sharma, who was a Cabinet Minister in the Virbhadra government, from Mandi Sadar against Congress’ Champa Thakur, daughter of Congress veteran and Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur.

Sukh Ram, who won Assembly elections eight times and has remained a parliamentarian thrice, had floated Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC), in 1998 after the Congress expelled him following his conviction in the infamous telecom scam. The HVC won five seats — four in Mandi district and one in tribal Lahaul and Spiti — and become the king-maker as the Congress and the BJP were tied at 31 each in the 68-member House (one seat was held by an Independent).

Sukh Ram had backed the BJP. It helps the BJP to expand its base in the state and complete first five year term in himachal pradesh saffron party an opportunity to spread its roots in the state as well as complete its first five-year term in Himachal. This year situation may be different because such ram was not active in politics for long. As his anil Sharma joined BJP the such ram announced that he would

This time situation may not be the same as Sukh Ram was inactive in politics for a long time. As Anil Sharma joined the BJP, the former Union Minister declared that he would canvass for his son to ensure his victory. Ironically he is  not only facing threat from congress candidate but also BJP leaders who has been running aggrieved since his arrival into BJP.