Anand Sharma factions stake claim for Theog & Shimla  

Former Congress state President Kuldeep Singh Rathore and Former counselor Anand Kaushal stakes  claims for party ticket from Theog and Shimla Assembly constituency respectively as two applied in HPCC headquarter here on Wednesday.There is a stir among the supporters of Sukhu and close friends of Holy lodge (residence of late Virbhadra Singh) over seeking  ticket by Mr Rathore and Mr Kaushal who has been associated with Congress for a long time and both are close associates of former Union Minister Anand Sharma. Interestingly both belong to Sharma camp who is currently being alienated by AICC being signatory or member of Group-23.

Mr Rathore was recently replaced as PCC Chief by AICC appointing Mandi Lok Sabha MP Pratibha Singh as party state chief. AICC has decided that it would allow only one member family in Assembly or Lok Sabha Election to end dynastic. Mr Pratibha Singh’s son Vikramaditya Singh is MLA of Congress from Rural Shimla. Mr Rathore has announced to fight the Assembly Election from Theog however AICC and PCC chief Pratibha Singh offered party ticket to BJP rebel and Zila Parishad member Indu Verma who is widow of BJP leader late Rakesh Verma from Theog. Now the party has promised tickets to Indu Verma Mr Rathore applied for tickets from Theog too against the wishes of Pratibha Singh. Mr Rathore is considered close to Anand Sharma camp but he never fought any election, remained party state general secretary for twenty years and also held the party PCC post. Mr Rathore is a novice to electoral politics. He applied in plain papers before the HPCC office party had invited applications from all party leaders who are asparaint for ticket from Congress party. Mr Anand Kauhsal who is currently Shimla district party vice president was considered a mass leader as always remained among people from their bad days to good days. Mr Kaushal, his brother, and wife were party elected members of ward from Shimla Municipal Corporation for the last thirty years. Beside Mr Kaushal, Naresh Chauhan HPCC spokesperson and Shimla Urban party president Jitender Chaudhary and Harish Janarth are also aspirants for ticket. Mr Chaudhary and Naresh Chauhan are also considered close to Mr Anand Sharma. However Mr Anand Kaushal who belonged to Degal of Nalagarh area in Solan district may be a strong choice if BJP and CPM again field Mr Suresh Bhardwaj and Sanjay Chauhan. The dominant voters of Shimla belonged to the upper region of Shimla district which normally go to the candidates of the upper region of district however if this vote banks of upper area get divided among two or three  leaders the margin of victory may fall in the favor of non-upper leaders. If CPI(M) would field former deputy mayor Tekinder Singh Panwar from Shimla urban it may balance the fight. Mr Rathore’s portgee Himral Krishan Chaudhary also claims a ticket from Shimla Gramin against the wishes of Mr Vikramditya Singh. BJP may consider to pitch ABVP leader and chairman of Kailash Federation Ravi Mehta from Gramin who is already on the ground. However it is too early to speculate who would be fight from where but Congress decided to field Indu Verma from Theog against incumbent CPM Legislator Rakesh Singha who have considered more stronger due to tall hill leaders in the state and his strong presence among the voters to fight for various public demand,  could deliver to some extent. BJP is still in search of a new face from Theog as it had a major blow after switching over Indu Verma to Congress recently. Congress is strongest in Rampur, Jubbal Kotkhai and Rohru Assembly. Currently BJP MLA Balveer Verma is in direct fight with Congress.Theog, Shimla Urban and Kasumpti may have a triangular fight this time as CPI(M) has consolidated among the voters gaining from infighting between BJP and Congress.  Congress may field Yashwant Chhajta from Chopal may apply for tickets any time as he is PCC General secretary and emerging new powerful leader from highland as he belonged to Kupvai remotest place in Chopal. Mr Chhajata is expected to give a tough fight to BJP Balvir Verma who is two times member of Assembly from the Chopal, he is the only potential candidate likely to retain the seat. The BJP lost deposits from Jubbal Kotkhai is the strongest Congress bastion which gave two chief ministers to the state. Unfortunately Sukhu and Anand Sharma camp of party is leading the battle in the Jubbal Kotkhai and Rohit Thakur who is fifth time MLAs may lock in the contest with BJP rebel Chetan Bragta or Nilam Sarkaik again. Chetan Bragta fought is son of Former Minister Narendra Bragta who was tallest leader of BJP died during Covid pandemic. BJP played spoil sports in recent byelections as it denied ticket to Chetan Bragat the elder son of Narendra Bragta to do away the dynastic politics however BJP took U turn and  it recently brought the rebel in its party fold promising ticket to him. Shimla and Mandi districts are prominently dominated by the Employees, Retires and Horticulturists voters and all the three are not happy with the incumbent regime in the state. Pratibha Singh is likely to not fight assembly elections and party have decided to go in the polls without a CM face. Electoral battle of Shimla district always gave edge towards Congress and the ruling party appeared in the direct flight at two to three assembly constituencies out of eight seats.