Shimla’s Kasumpti: BJP’s non-royal outsider make race interesting

Shimla, Nov 8 – The ruling BJP in Himachal Pradesh is trying a non-royal approach in Kasumpti Assembly Constituency of Shimla by fielding State Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj in the fray, seeking to topple the Congress bastion.
Reference to Kasumpti constituency often sees swords drawn between Koti and Junga royal family members.
In the November 12 polls, saffron heavyweight Bhardwaj is pitted against erstwhile “king” – Anirudh Singh from Koti royal estate for Congress and pro-farmer CPM candidate Dr Kuldeep Singh Tanwar (also a Koti dynasty descendant) in a triangular contest.
The contests, in previous polls, have remained in favor of Koti royalty.
In this poll, there are several issues unique to separate groups — farmers are affected by the outbreak of the Lumpy disease; water and road crises ail rural areas while it is a one-time-settlement of houses in the merged area of 14 wards.
Three tourist destinations including Kufri, Shailonbagh and Mashobra have lobbies of hoteliers and poney riders.
Congress has strongholds in Mashobra and Koti as Anirudh Singh is a scion of the Koti royal dynasty, however, CPM candidate Tanwar is also the scion of the same dynasty.
BJP, as such, went experimental and did not rely upon Junga royal princely estate candidate Joytivijay Sen who was defeated twice.
In a bid to penetrate the Koti vote bank besides having a stronghold in Junga vote bank normally, polled previously in favor of BJP, the saffron party pitted Bhardwaj in the race.
Political commentators told UNI that Bhardwaj, who has been ousted from his parent constituency Shimla has been more or less pushed into political exile.
But given the anti-incumbency against the Congress candidate in Kasumpti this time, Bhardwaj might score.
Union Minister Amit Shah’s public meeting is in Dhali and BJP president JP Nadda’s in Kasumpti town.
Congress like BJP is not fully united in Kasumpti, Anirudh Singh and Pratibha Singh are not on the same page. Party vice president Harash Mahajan’s joining the BJP may dent Anirudh Singh’s vote bank. Also, Singh lacks party or state star campaigners this time.
Tanwar, who is in the fray for the second time, is once again banking on farmers.
Both BJP and CPI(M)’s campaign is focused on social and criminal issues like illicit liquor and synthetic drugs.
While Anirudh Singh started his career as a Zila Parishad member, Bhardwaj of BJP has remained a three-time MLA and one-time MP from Shimla urban, besides being a minister in the current State government.
Tanwar an IFS officer, also credited for the state literacy mission, is connected to social movements.
In 2017 Congress got 53.52 per cent votes; BJP 30.72 and CPI(M) 10.40 per cent.
The Constituency has 14 wards of Shimla MC and 36 Panchayat of Mashobra, Junga and Theog Subdivision.
There is mixed baggage of electorates comprising urban, migrant workers and rural areas. There are as many as 66,915 voters in the constituency.
Constituency spread in the periphery of Shimla town touch Sadupul of Solan district, Chail of Solan, Theog and Sunni of Mandi district and Dhami of Shimla Gramin.