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Cong banks on stalwarts’ wives and sons in Himachal
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Stark contrast The Congress which already has about eight sitting legislators, who are sons and wives of former ministers and MLAs, has this time too has fielded five new faces from political families  The BJP has denied ticket to claimants who were either sons or wives of sitting or former MLAs. Rajan Sushant, MP, wanted ticket for his wife; Roop Singh, MLA, for his son and Speaker Tulsi Ram for his wife. But the party did not oblige.

Shimla, October 13
True to the culture of “dynastic rule” that runs in the Congress, the party has fielded 15 candidates who are either wives or sons of senior politicians as compared to a mere three in the BJP.

The Congress, which already has about eight sitting legislators, who are wives and sons of former ministers and MLAs, has this time too lived up to the reputation of politics being run in the family by fielding five new faces from political families, taking their percentage to 20. These include Ajay Mahajan (Nurpur), son of former minister, Sat Mahajan; Vinod Sultanpuri, son of former MP KD Sultanpuri; and Yadvinder Goma, son of former MLA Milkhi Ram Goma. In sharp contrast to the Congress, the saffron party as a rule has denied ticket to about a half a dozen claimants for the ticket who were either sons or wives of sitting or former MLAs. Rajan Sushant, MP, wanted ticket for his wife; Roop Singh, MLA, for his son and Speaker Tulsi Ram for his wife but the high command did not oblige.

As such, the BJP has this time not fielded any new face who is from a political family. The BJP only has three legislators - Vinod Chandel (Doon) - wife of former MLA Ram Pratap Chandel, Urmil Thakur (Sujanpur) - daughter-in-law of former BJP minister Thakur Jagdev Chand and Govind Thakur (Manali), son of former minister, Thakur Kunj Lal.

The list those in the Congress who have inherited political legacy of the family is fairly long. This includes Kush Parmar (Nahan), son first chief minister Dr YS Parmar; and Harshwardhan Chauhan (Shillai), son of former minister Thakur Guman Singh. Both are from Sirmaur district. Then there is another addition - Vinay Kumar (Renuka) whose father Dr Prem Singh was a seven-time MLA.

Congress Legislature Party leader Vidya Stokes (Theog) won in a by-election in 1974 after the demise of her husband Lal Chand Stokes. Besides, Anil Sharma (Mandi), son of former Communication Minister Sukh Ram, is also in the fray. Surender Bhardwaj, who won from Rajnagar in Chamba last time, is the son of former minister Vidhadhar. Nikhil Rajour (Jaswan) is the son of former minister, Sarla Sharma and brother of Viplove Thakur, former MLA.

Sudhir Sharma, son of former minister Sant Ram, has also been accommodated. He has been fielded from Dharamshala as his constituency, Baijnath was reserved for scheduled caste (SC) in the delimitation exercise. Another politician son contesting again is Neeraj Bharti (Jawali), son of former minister and MP Chander Kumar.