Satpal Raizada and Anand Sharma
Subhash Rajta
Shimla, May 1
The Congress has sprung a surprise by fielding former Union Minister and four-time Rajya Sabha MP Anand Sharma from the Kangra parliamentary constituency. The nod to Satpal Raizada’s candidature from the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency, though, has come on expected lines. Raizada, a former legislator from Una, was the frontrunner for the ticket from the outset, except for the brief period when the Congress toyed with the idea of fielding Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri or his daughter Aastha Agnihotri against Union Minister Anurag Thakur.
Sharma, meanwhile, was nowhere in the race for the ticket until the very end. The Congress considered several names, former minister Asha Kumari and first-time MLA RS Bali being the most prominent for the seat before finalising Sharma’s name.
Having been a four-time Rajya Sabha MP and the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, he will enter the fray with an envious wealth of experience. However, it will not be an easy ride for him in Kangra. He doesn’t hail from the Kangra parliamentary constituency and the BJP will play the “outsider” card to the hilt. Also, he is not too familiar with electoral politics - he is contesting the Lok Sabha polls for the first time. He contested the Assembly poll only once, from Shimla in 1982, wherein he lost to BJP’s Daulat Ram.
Nevertheless, given his knowledge, experience and oratory skills, he is more than capable of punching holes in the BJP narrative. Also, he and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu are known to be close to each other and hence the latter will go the extra mile to see him through. The other factor that could go in his favour is the fact that his opponent, Rajeev Bhardwaj, isn’t a political heavyweight and is making his debut in electoral politics.
Meanwhile, Raizada has a relatively much bigger challenge in trying to stop Anurag Thakur from securing his fifth consecutive victory from the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency. Having lost to BJP’s Satpal Satti in the Assembly elections from Una, Raizada will have to punch above his weight to stop Anurag.
It is believed that the party high command wanted a stronger candidate to stop Anurag’s continuing victory march. The move did not fructify as both Agnihotri and his daughter refused to contest citing their personal circumstances. Meanwhile, much before his name was finalised, Raizada had started the ground work, knowing that it would require a big effort to stop Anurag.
Satpal Raizada
Age: 53
Hometown: Una
Political background:
- Member of NSUI
- Lost Assembly poll in 2012
- Elected Una MLA in 2017
- Lost 2022 Assembly poll
Anand Sharma
Age: 71
Hometown: Shimla
Political background:
- Founder member of NSUI
- Elected to Rajya Sabha in 1984, 2004, 2010, 2016
- Minister for Commerce
- MS for External Affairs
The Tribune News Service brings you the latest news, analysis and insights from the region, India and around the world. Follow the Tribune News Service for a wide-ranging coverage of events as they unfold, with perspective and clarity.
Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.
Most Read In 24 Hours
Don't Miss
View All
Top News
Swati Maliwal goes to Tiz Hazari court to record statement before magistrate; police to reach Arvind Kejriwal’s house to probe assault case
Delhi BJP Mahila Morcha members protest near Kejriwal's resi...
Ghatkopar hoarding collapse accused brought to Mumbai, to be produced in court today
Was apprehended from Udaipur in Rajasthan on Thursday
Delhi-bound Air India flight from Pune collides with tug truck before takeoff
Emergency protocols are swiftly enacted, ensuring the safety...
India’s economy to expand by around 7 per cent this year, country getting more investments than China: UN
The mid-year update of the World Economic Situation and Pros...
