<p>The hill state of Himachal Pradesh is poised for a direct contest between the BJP and the Congress with the saffron party expected to repeat its splendid 2014 performance when it won all the 4 Lok Sabha seats in the state.</p>.<p>The BJP under a new chief minister, Jai Ram Thakur, managed a well-calibrated election campaign, much before the Congress stepped-in, centred around Prime Minister Modi and national security.</p>.<p>Party's official nominees sought votes in the name of Modi and development. The Congress, grappling with infighting, launched a counter-narrative centred around the failures of the NDA regime under Modi.</p>.<p>Jai Ram Thakur’s government strengthened its base and so far has enjoyed a clean governance track record ever since December of 2017 when it came into being.</p>.<p>Jai Ram was made the chief minister after veteran BJP leader and former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal unexpectedly lost in the 2017 Assembly elections.</p>.<p>Jai Ram also commands the credentials of a non-dynast in politics.</p>.<p>Unlike in neighbouring Punjab, the Balakot strikes post-Pulwama have found considerable resonance in the hill state, much to the BJP’s gain.</p>.<p>This election, the BJP replaced two of its 4 sitting MPs: Veteran BJP stalwart and former Union minister Shanta Kumar from Kangra and Virender Kashyap from Shimla.</p>.<p>Shanta Kumar ‘opted out’ sensing that he would not be named a party nominee.</p>.<p>BJP’s Suresh Kashyap now faces Congress' Dhani Ram Shandil from Shimla reserved constituency.</p>.<p>In Kangra, which has 30% OBC population, the BJP fielded state minister Krishan Kapoor against two-time Kangra MLA Pawan Kajal, an OBC.</p>.<p>Dhumal’s son Anurag Thakur, a three-time sitting MP, is seeking re-election for the fourth time from Hamirpur constituency.</p>.<p>He will be against former minister and sitting MLA Ram Lal Thakur of the Congress.</p>.<p>Both Anurag and Ram Lal have contested parliamentary polls three times in the past, but not against each other. While Anurag won all three, Ram Lal lost all of them.</p>.<p>In Mandi, an interesting contest is on way with the entry of Ashray Sharma, the third generation and nephew of former Union telecom minister Sukh Ram (91).</p>.<p>Ashray’s father Anil Sharma was a minister in the BJP's state government but later quit.</p>.<p>He is pitted against BJP’s sitting MP Ram Swaroop.</p>
<p>The hill state of Himachal Pradesh is poised for a direct contest between the BJP and the Congress with the saffron party expected to repeat its splendid 2014 performance when it won all the 4 Lok Sabha seats in the state.</p>.<p>The BJP under a new chief minister, Jai Ram Thakur, managed a well-calibrated election campaign, much before the Congress stepped-in, centred around Prime Minister Modi and national security.</p>.<p>Party's official nominees sought votes in the name of Modi and development. The Congress, grappling with infighting, launched a counter-narrative centred around the failures of the NDA regime under Modi.</p>.<p>Jai Ram Thakur’s government strengthened its base and so far has enjoyed a clean governance track record ever since December of 2017 when it came into being.</p>.<p>Jai Ram was made the chief minister after veteran BJP leader and former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal unexpectedly lost in the 2017 Assembly elections.</p>.<p>Jai Ram also commands the credentials of a non-dynast in politics.</p>.<p>Unlike in neighbouring Punjab, the Balakot strikes post-Pulwama have found considerable resonance in the hill state, much to the BJP’s gain.</p>.<p>This election, the BJP replaced two of its 4 sitting MPs: Veteran BJP stalwart and former Union minister Shanta Kumar from Kangra and Virender Kashyap from Shimla.</p>.<p>Shanta Kumar ‘opted out’ sensing that he would not be named a party nominee.</p>.<p>BJP’s Suresh Kashyap now faces Congress' Dhani Ram Shandil from Shimla reserved constituency.</p>.<p>In Kangra, which has 30% OBC population, the BJP fielded state minister Krishan Kapoor against two-time Kangra MLA Pawan Kajal, an OBC.</p>.<p>Dhumal’s son Anurag Thakur, a three-time sitting MP, is seeking re-election for the fourth time from Hamirpur constituency.</p>.<p>He will be against former minister and sitting MLA Ram Lal Thakur of the Congress.</p>.<p>Both Anurag and Ram Lal have contested parliamentary polls three times in the past, but not against each other. While Anurag won all three, Ram Lal lost all of them.</p>.<p>In Mandi, an interesting contest is on way with the entry of Ashray Sharma, the third generation and nephew of former Union telecom minister Sukh Ram (91).</p>.<p>Ashray’s father Anil Sharma was a minister in the BJP's state government but later quit.</p>.<p>He is pitted against BJP’s sitting MP Ram Swaroop.</p>
