Indeed, the BJP had no better option than to declare Prem Kumar Dhumal as its chief ministerial candidate for the coming Assembly elections on 9 November. Of all the aspiring leaders in the state, Dhumal alone has the required acceptability in all the 12 districts.

The other leaders, whose names were being floated and debated (as a result of the party’s prolonged and suspicious silence over the issue), have a limited appeal outside their territories.

They are strong in their own constituencies and some have reportedly performed impressively. J P Nadda (Union Health Minister) gained a pan-Himachal image mainly in the last three years, but the central leadership of the BJP might not have considered it adequate to bring the party to power.

Besides, Nadda’s organisational skills would be more useful to the party at the Centre since general elections are only about two years away.

Wild speculation about people considered “close” to Narendra Modi being made chief minister (in case of a BJP victory) were also doing the rounds. All this had been demoralising the BJP cadres. Even among the common voters disappointment and doubts had set in over this “secrecy”.

Several statements from the state and Central leaders that it was a “poll strategy” not to name the chief ministerial candidate was, to say the least, unconvincing. The uninspiring performances by Haryana and UP chief ministers handpicked by Delhi bosses were openly talked about.

Even Dhumal looked baffled instead of his usual strong, assertive personality.  The BJP’s campaign, in general, lacked the fire for which it was well known.

A huge sigh of relief and loud, spontaneous cheering greeted the announcement by the party’s national president Amit Shah in a public rally at Rajgarh.

However, what remains an enigma is why the party had dilly-dallied and delayed naming the chief ministerial candidate. November 9, D-day, with the mandatory two days before which public campaigning must end, is just a few breaths away. Dhumal’s traditional constituency was Bamson.

He was asked to shift to Sujanpur. He has his own battle on hand for winning the seat, though it should be easier now. But this late decision by the party big bosses does not leave him enough time to tour most of the constituencies with the status of a chief ministerial candidate.

It could have made a very big difference. Whatever  the central leaders and the chief ministers of other BJP-ruled states may say in the public rallies, their weight and worth would be nothing compared to a chief ministerial candidate’s promises.

This raises doubts over the new-found diffidence of the party stalwarts at the Centre. Even if the party wins the elections, only the leadership is to be blamed if the margins are narrow and the number of seats fewer.

But the Modi-Amit Shah combination had obviously sensed the mood of the party and people in the state at the nick of the moment ~ boosting the party’s chances considerably.

While Dhumal and his cabinet colleagues during their first term were rather tentative and less sure of themselves in making decisions and handling bureaucratic procedures, they became fairly adept at their work during his second tenure.

There was hardly any anti-incumbency factor. Dhumal’s affable and considerate attitude towards common people won him popularity in the state.

The battle lines are now shifted from the earlier Modi Vs Virbhadra Singh to Dhumal Vs Singh. It looks like a master-stroke aimed at reducing the negative impact of recent measures like demonetisation, GST, etc.

The reports that the Modi charisma in the country was waning gradually, might have reached the ears of the top brass. Though reports of government intelligence agencies are not always reliable, they do contain a modicum of truth.

The Congress party with all their internal rivalries and over-ambitious leaders in the state, has a tougher job on hand now. Leaders like Pandit Sukh Ram and his son Anil Sharma (a former minister in Virbhadra Cabinet) who have recently defected to BJP may not be the last of an exodus.

Reports indicate that many others in the party have been eyeing the goodies if BJP pulls through. But who knows what situation will come up on 18 December. After all, there may be a game of numbers, for all we know. Dhumal proved in his first term itself his navigational skills in such troubled waters.

The Congress leaders could well be cursing themselves now for provoking the BJP time and again to name its chief ministerial candidate. Surely, Rahul Gandhi and his team seem to know how to invite trouble.