Himachal election tickets: BJP, Cong on the defensive

Both the Congress and the BJP had to offer extensive explanations for their choice of candidates, including for the chief minister's post, in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections.

The BJP's decision to project former chief minister and Hamirpur MP Prem Kumar Dhumal as chief ministerial candidate came as a surprise for the supporters of veteran leader Shanta Kumar, who will be shifted to the Centre in the bargain.

The party's parliamentary board took the decision after consulting party leaders from the state. While both Dhumal and Kumar were in the race, senior leaders felt that lack of a clear alternative to Virbhadra Singh of the Congress would hurt the party.

This risk far outweighed the chances of Shanta Kumar putting up rebel candidates, said a senior BJP leader. Dhumal and Kumar both projected a unified front on all questions after the decision was taken.

The Congress' dilemma, however, was not so easily resolved. State unit president Viplove Thakur tried hard to justify allotment of tickets to a former commando attached with Sonia Gandhi and to the son of a former cook at 10, Janpath.

"Ticket distribution has been very fair and all sections of the society have been given representation. Because of the right selection of candidates, half the battle has been won," said Thakur.

He justified denial of tickets to six-time MLA and state Horticulture Minister Singhi Ram from Rampur and Deputy Speaker Dharampal Thakur (Arki) in Solan district in favour of former SPG commando Nand Lal and Prakash Chand Karad, son of a former cook of the Gandhi family, respectively.

Kin of Congress leaders have got tickets on nine seats out of the 65 that go to polls in the second phase on December 19.

However, Thakur defended the selection, saying, "Being a relative of a leader shall not be a disqualification for anybody. They got tickets on the basis of their work and the requests of the grassroot workers."