Last-minute announcement of Prem Kumar Dhumal’s name shows BJP worried: Sushil Kumar Shinde, Congress general secy in-charge of Himachal Pradesh
, ET Bureau|
Nov 02, 2017, 12.33 AM IST
Is Congress confident of winning Himachal?
The Congress will form the government, irrespective of whatever BJP may claim. Virbhadra Singh will break the cyclic change in Himachal by repeating his term, which he did once in 1985. The PM and BJP chief may hold many rallies but it won’t matter. We have worked for five years and the development is for everyone to see. The CM is a good and experienced administrator, who is in touch with people at the grassroots.
What is your take on BJP declaring its CM candidate?
There was a big tussle between Prem Kumar Dhumal, health minister JP Nadda and former CM Shanta Kumar over CM candidature. Nadda’s supporters had wide expectations that he would be made CM. With last-minute announcement of Dhumal’s name, we learn there is anger and disillusionment among Nadda’s supporters. This will be counterproductive for BJP.
What about BJP president Amit Shah’s remark Dhumal will become CM?
Amit Shah said yesterday ‘Congress has been asking who BJP’s CM face is and hence I announce it will be Dhumal.’ It has come under Congress pressure. We declared Virbhadra Singh as CM candidate a month ago. For long, BJP leaders were saying CM face is no issue in Himachal. BJP is scared and worried over chances of winning Himachal. That is why they had to announce a CM candidate. BJP did not announce it either in Uttar Pradesh or Uttarakhand in the recent elections.
What is your reaction to PM calling Virbhadra adminsitration a government on bail?
Everyone in Himachal Pradesh knows about the political vendetta unleashed by the Narendra Modi government on Virbhadra Singh in the garb of investigations. BJP keeps on making allegations against our leaders. They also keep making jumlas like Shining India, Stand-Up India and other announcements like demonetisation and GST. BJP is caught up in these ill-planned moves and I think the Congress will return to power in Himachal and the country to improve matters.
The Congress will form the government, irrespective of whatever BJP may claim. Virbhadra Singh will break the cyclic change in Himachal by repeating his term, which he did once in 1985. The PM and BJP chief may hold many rallies but it won’t matter. We have worked for five years and the development is for everyone to see. The CM is a good and experienced administrator, who is in touch with people at the grassroots.
What is your take on BJP declaring its CM candidate?
There was a big tussle between Prem Kumar Dhumal, health minister JP Nadda and former CM Shanta Kumar over CM candidature. Nadda’s supporters had wide expectations that he would be made CM. With last-minute announcement of Dhumal’s name, we learn there is anger and disillusionment among Nadda’s supporters. This will be counterproductive for BJP.
What about BJP president Amit Shah’s remark Dhumal will become CM?
Amit Shah said yesterday ‘Congress has been asking who BJP’s CM face is and hence I announce it will be Dhumal.’ It has come under Congress pressure. We declared Virbhadra Singh as CM candidate a month ago. For long, BJP leaders were saying CM face is no issue in Himachal. BJP is scared and worried over chances of winning Himachal. That is why they had to announce a CM candidate. BJP did not announce it either in Uttar Pradesh or Uttarakhand in the recent elections.
What is your reaction to PM calling Virbhadra adminsitration a government on bail?
Everyone in Himachal Pradesh knows about the political vendetta unleashed by the Narendra Modi government on Virbhadra Singh in the garb of investigations. BJP keeps on making allegations against our leaders. They also keep making jumlas like Shining India, Stand-Up India and other announcements like demonetisation and GST. BJP is caught up in these ill-planned moves and I think the Congress will return to power in Himachal and the country to improve matters.
