Himachal Pradesh Assembly Election 2017: Sukhvinder Singh Sukkhu concentrating on door-to-door campaign
From door-to-door campaigning to camping in his constituency, Himachal Pradesh Congress chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukkhu is trying every bit to dethrone his old rival and sitting BJP MLA Vijay Agnihotri to get Nadaun seat in the upcoming Himachal Pradesh Assembly election.
Mr Agnihotri had defeated Mr Sukkhu by a margin of 6,750 votes in the last election.
The veteran Congress leader is banking upon the Ghirath votes and women voters to be his trump card in the November 9 Assembly polls.
Mr Sukkhu's path to victory, however, has many roadblocks. On one side, Prem Kumar Dhumal's announcement as chief ministerial candidate from BJP has narrowed the poll prospects of all Congress leaders, and on the other side, the ongoing animosity between Mr Sukkhu and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has turned away chief minister's supporters from him.
The man, however, is not taking the situation lying down. Assisted by his wife Kamlesh Kumari, he has been visiting every village and meeting people, telling them about the developmental works done by him and the party. His wife is also taking a group of women with her and spreading a good word about her husband.
There are 86,814 votes -- 42,180 male, 42,868 female and 1,766 service voters -- in the constituency, where the polling percentage is usually high.
While Mr Dhumal has addressed public meetings to garner votes for Mr Agnihotri, no such move has been made by any top leaders from the Congress, with exception of party leader Anand Sharma, who accompanied him while filing the nomination.
Also in the poll fray in this six-cornered contest are Zila Parishad member Lekh Raj Sharma, a BJP rebel, Ravi Parkash from BSP and Prithi Chand Sharma and Ranjeet Singh as Independents.
Known for his good nature, Mr Sharma has, in the past, extended financial help for the marriage of daughters and education of children in the constituency. BJP fears that Mr Sharma, popular with poor people in the constituency, may cut into the vote share for Mr Agnihotri.