Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service
Shimla, August 6
Even though it is still not certain whether Pratibha Singh will take the electoral plunge for the Mandi Lok Sabha by-poll the Congress is keen on fielding former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's wife.
Considering her to be the most formidable candidate to take on the ruling BJP on Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur's home turf, a delegation of MLAs, authorised by the Congress Legislature party (CLP), made a formal request to her in this regard.
Following the discussion on the issue at the CLP yesterday, some legislators stressed that a formal request must be made to her to come forward to contest from Mandi. The Mandi seat fell vacant following the demise of sitting MP Ram Swaroop in March.
Sources revealed a delegation of the CLP led by Mukesh Agnihotri, Ram Lal Thakur, Harshwardhan Chauhan, Jagat Singh Negi, Nand Lal and Satpal Raizada visited the residence of Pratibha to urge her to contest. The party high command has left the decision to the family about contesting from Mandi while conveying the sentiment of the MLAs. The option of contesting from Arki Assembly segment, represented by Virbhadra also remains open for Pratibha. Her son, Vikramaditya is also a first time sitting MLA from Shimla (Rural).
The names of Pratibha Singh and former Minister Kaul Singh Thakur are being considered by the party for the by-poll likely to be held in September. Though Kaul Singh has shown disinterest in contesting, he has made it clear that in case the party asks him to contest he will abide by the decision.
Mandi has been a traditional Congress bastion and Pratibha has won from here in 2004 and 2013. Six-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh too has remained an MP from Mandi in 1971, 1980 and 2009. Even though Virbhadra's family does enjoy a clout here with Mandi being the home district of the Chief Minister, the ruling BJP will go all out to retain the seat.
In fact, Ram Swaroop had won the 2019 parliamentary polls by a record margin of 4.05 lakh votes. Even in the last Assembly election in 2017, the Congress had virtually been wiped out in Mandi as the party failed to win even one assembly segment out of a total of 10 in the district. Barring Jogindernagar, where an independent candidate won, the BJP was triumphant in nine constituencies.
A Congress bastion
- Mandi has been a traditional Congress bastion and Pratibha has won from here in 2004 and 2013.
- Six-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh too has remained an MP from Mandi in 1971, 1980 and 2009.
- Even though Virbhadra's family does enjoy a clout here with Mandi being the home district of the Chief Minister, the ruling BJP will go all out to retain the seat.
