Shimla: Just when the congress party was coming to terms with facing the electorate, Harsh Mahajan, cabinet minister in the government has let the cat out among the pigeons by deciding not to contest the forthcoming assembly elections.
Being taken with a pinch of salt the computer typed letter addressed to the electorate of Chamba constituency states that for purely personal reasons, he has decided not to contest the Vidhan Sabha elections scheduled for December 19.
However, he says, he will remain a true worker of the congress party and would continue to serve in whatever capacity he is asked to but will not indulge in electoral politics.
At the same time Mahajan, a three time MLA from Chamba, does not fail to mention the achievements and developmental works he has got done for the constituency. Among his achievements, the minister counts having set up a polytechnic and a B Ed college and opening up various employment avenues.
Mahajan in the letter has also appealed to the electorate not to desert the congress party, asserting that it would again come back to power and Virbhadra Singh would again become the chief minister of the state.
The signed letter also highlights Mahajan’s various achievements including being the recipient of the Himachal Kesari Award 2007 and having the longest tenure as president of the H P State Youth Congress for nine years from 1986 to 1995.
Though sources close to the minister revealed that the letter had been got written by the minister himself, but his detractors say that it is only a ploy to test the electoral waters before he finally takes a plunge into the electoral battle. Another set of opinion is that the letter has been let out by rivals to influence the voters by claiming that Mahajan is shying from contesting the polls as the congress is not likely to win the seat this time around.
Attempts to contact Harsh Mahajan proved futile, even as sources close to him disclosed that the minister was in Delhi.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads the team of media professionals at Hill Post.
In a career spanning over two decades through all formats of journalism in Electronic, Print and Online Media, he brings with him enough experience to steer this platform. He lives in Shimla.
