Shimla, June 18,
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who is facing a credibility crisis following the complete rout of the grand old party in the recent Lok Sabha polls, has decided to test his fortune through his wife. The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has declared Kamlesh Kumari, the spouse of the Chief Minister, as the Congress candidate for the Dehra by-election.
The AICC’s notification named Kamlesh Kumari as the candidate for the Dehra assembly by-election, bypassing Dr. Rajesh Sharma, who lost in the 2022 assembly elections on a party ticket. Interestingly, the Congress party has previously attempted similar strategies, such as fielding former Union Minister Anand Sharma from the Kangra parliamentary seat, where he lost by over 250,000 votes.
For the other assembly by-elections, the Congress has chosen familiar faces, with Dr. Pushpender Verma contesting from Hamirpur and Hardeep Singh Bawa from Nalagarh. The BJP has decided to field former MLA Hoshiyar Singh Chambiyal, who recently resigned and rejoined the party, despite his history of contesting as an Independent in 2022 after being denied a BJP ticket.
The state assembly currently comprises 38 Congress legislators. Winning at least two seats in the by-elections would restore the party’s 2022 tally. In the recent by-elections, the Congress won four out of six seats, while the BJP captured two Congress seats, increasing its strength to 27.
Chief Minister Sukhu stands to gain credibility if his wife or the party secures victory in these by-elections, especially after the Lok Sabha debacle. If successful, Kamlesh Kumari would become the third female member of the assembly.
The Himachal Pradesh by-elections are scheduled for July 10, with the last date for filing nominations being June 21.
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