KUMARHATTI: Ms. Kamlesh Kumari a local woman, fielded by CPI from Kasauli is all set to topsy-turvy the Congress equation from seat. Kasauli known as stronghold of Congress was now witnessing triangular contest thanks to the aggressive campaign launched by CPI to capture the workers’ class votes on large scale.
Ms. Kumari who was herself an employee in a nearby well known watch company has good rapport among workers related to industrial units, residential schools and hotels that were galore in Kasauli constituency.
The Congress that was earlier sitting pretty after BJP had witnessed 17 nominations for the seat. However the fissures in BJP were suddenly subdued following the ticket allocation to little known, Dr. Vijay Saizal a youth who hailed from a nearby village, Gandhi Gram.
Though the things were yet favorable for Congress candidate, Mr. Raghu Raj due to his tall clout in constituency. Mr. Raghu Raj had won five elections from Kasauli between 1982 to 2003 except in 1990 when BJP candidate, Mr. Satpal Kamboj won from seat.
The situation took negative for Congress after Ms. Kamlesh feared to gain on Congress cost. There were around 4000-5000 votes related to workers in Kasauli that could go to CPI. The Congressmen were themselves admitting the CPI fear factor this time. They were seeing CPI as major threat on seat. As per Congress leaders if CPI managed to get 1000-1500 votes, it could be a major disaster for party.
In last poll MR. Raghu Raj had got 17886 votes as compare to 14127 polled to BJP candidate Mr. Virender Kashyap. Vinod Kumar who fought from Himachal Vikas Party got 4500 votes. He has now joined BJP. Moreover Mr. Chaman Lal Gachli who won from Kasauli in 1977 as independent candidate has also joined BJP.
Moreover resentment in Sultanpur belt was another cause of concern for Congress. In fact the devoid created after the death of Mr. K.D. Sultanpuri the six times MP from Sultanpur has come as a major worrying factor for Congress.
We are going to get over 10,000 votes this time, claimed Mr. Jagdish Bhardwaj, a state secretariat member of CPI. In Kasauli, it was a contest between BJP and CPI, he maintained.
