Third front a big no for HP voters
LIMITED SCOPE Twoparty system, ingrained in state politics, has left almost no space for any other player
› The electors in HP are politically smart which can be attributed to the high literacy rate and increased per capita income. Moreover, there is no caste card to play here. HARISH THAKUR, head of political science department, HPU
With twoparty system ingrained in Himachal politics for long, leaving almost no scope for any third alternative, voters in the hill state have traditionally alternated between Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (formerly known as Bharatiya Jan Sangh) for the past five decades.
The third option emerging in the state’s political scene only served the purpose of demurring. Attempts were indeed made to throwinathird front but the parties — national or regional — which tried, failed to meet the expectations.
UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS
Lok Raj Party (LRP) was the first regional party formed in the state in 1967. Headed by former speaker Thakur Sen Negi, LRP had another tall leader JBL Khachi. In the 1972 assembly elections, LRP had put up candidates in 16 out of 68 constituencies and won two seats only to be disbanded by the time next elections happened.
No third party could achieve a major success for next almost two decades as power kept on shuffling between the Congress and BJP.
Come 1990 electionand Janata Dal (JD) emerged on the political landscapes. Vijai Singh Mankotia, who had alienated himself from Congress, led JD to a big victory, winning 11 seats in a prepoll alliance with BJP, resulting in absolute majority with 46 seats.
However, the coalition government was dismissed in the aftermath of Babri demolition in 1992. By the 1993 assembly election, Mankotia was back in Congress and JD faded away into oblivion.
Next to try his hands was Congress veteran Pandit Sukh Ram in a bid to give a third alternative. After parting ways with Congress, he founded Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) in 1997.
HVC won five seats in 1998 and entered into post-poll alliance with BJP helping the saffron party to form government which was one seat short of majority.
Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party forayed into Himachal in the 2008 election but could only secure one seat and its lone legislator Sanjay Chaudhary later joined the BJP. The 2012 election told a similar tale. But this time, BJP witnessed a split.
Ma heshw ar Singh, the former president of saffron party, with other disgruntled leaders formed Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) but managed just one seat. The party merged with the BJP last year.
LITTLE LEFT FOR LEFT
Left parties — Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) that have a considerable base in few pockets of Himachal — too failed to leave a mark in the state politics.
Only four left candidates have been able to make it to the state assembly since 1967. Last to win from C PI( M) was Rake sh Sing ha in 1993, who was unseated after his conviction in a murder case three years later.
WHYNOTO THIRD FRONT?
Political analysts feel there are several deep-rooted reasons for the failure of any non-Congress, non-BJP alternative to emerge.
Primarily, there is not a single instance in Himachal where a new face—like AA Pin Delhi and Punjab — which is not recognised with any of these two parties, has walked into the political sphere and formed a party.
All those who made attempts either separated from the domi- nating parties or offered nothing new to the people. “Be it TS Negi, Vijai Sing hM ankotia,Sukh Ram or Maheshwar Singh, they all left their parent party for personal interests and came back after sometime,” says a poll analyst.
‘NO CASTE CARD TO PLAY’
“There is a little space for any third party in Himachal. The electors here are politically smart which can be attributed to the high literacy rate and increased per capita income. Moreover, there are no caste factors or minority votes which can influence the electoral,” says Harish Thakur, head of political science department at Himachal Pradesh University.
“Another main factor in Himachal Pradesh politics has been the strong employees’ force. There are around 2.35 lakh employees who have always wielded influence and successive governments have always appeased them,” he adds.
As far as left parties are concerned, he says, they have failed to consolidate their strength despite leading several farmers’ and labourers' movements.