The ‘historic’ victory of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Himachal Pradesh is not only a feather in the cap of first time chief minister Jai Ram Thakur, whose leadership capacity was under test even, it will establish the ‘new era’ of BJP in Himachal.
The BJP may, however, have won in all the 68 assembly segments in Himachal Pradesh with unprecedented margins—with Nalagarh and Seraj (CM’s constituency) giving lead of 39,970 votes and 37,147 votes, respectively due to dominant Modi factor.
The credit for mobilising people on ground goes to the Himachal Pradesh CM, who ruled the state for 17 months with positive mind and who single handedly campaigned in every nook and corner of Himachal polls, despite it being a protracted battle with state going to votes in last phase on 19 May.
Two former CMs, Shanta Kumar and Prem Kumar Dhumal did not tour the entire state for different reasons. (Dhumal mostly preferred to campaign only in Hamirpur, where his son Anurag Thakur is re-elected as MP fourth time and Shanta Kumar in his home seat, Kangra).
BJP insiders said the Lok Sabha poll results will establish Jai Ram Thakur, who became CM in twist of fortune after 2017 Assembly polls, as a leader in BJP and the state and will shape up future party politics in HP to a great extent.
Jai Ram Thakur although finds that it is a massive mandate for Narendra Modi’s leadership, he does claim that the results in Himachal will dispel false impressions in the political circles in the state.
“I have not spoken much in 15 months. I have just listened to people and have tried to understand. Some people thought that they are the only ones in Himachal. And nothing can move without them. The poll results must have dispelled many false impressions. Many others said Mandi will be difficult for Jai Ram Thakur. Even Sukh Ram said BJP won because of him in Mandi in 2017 polls. One should leave all this now and admit that this era is different. The situation is different,” Thakur told mediapersons on Friday.