Articulate ex-CM Dhumal has knack for bouncing back in game
HAMIRPUR Bharatiya Janata Party’s chief ministerial face Prem Kumar Dhumal has emerged stronger every time his detractors within and outside his party tried to finish him off from the political scene.
In the 2007 assembly polls, Dhumal’s political opponents in the BJP had planned to compel the party not to project him as the chief ministerial candidate but he they failed. And this time too, his rivals, with tried more vigorous to keep him away.
But Dhumal, 72, was again declared the chief ministerial face just nine days ahead of the polls.
“I don’t mind. All this happens. After all its politics,” says Dhumal when HT posed him a first question while he arrived in Kangu in Hamirpur to address a rally in favour of party candidate and sitting MLA from Nadaun, Vijay Agnihotri.
It’s his third rally for the day after the first two in Solan and Kasauli and he has to address four more.
PLAIN SPEECH, COMMON SPEAK
Though physically he looks feeble and tired, may be because of his age, but his speech in the address is as powerful and articulate as it was when he remained chief minister from 2007 to 2012.
“The common man is set to rout the government led by a Raja. When I was in Kotkhai for a rally, people there were raising slogans of ‘Seb ko bachana, Dhumal ko laana hai (If you have to save the apple, vote for Dhumal). In a rally in Rampur Bushehar, Virbhadra’s own kingdom, slogans against Virbhadra are getting loud. Why Hamirpur should lag behind,” says Dhumal. His speech was interrupted, repeatedly, by a woman worker of the party who even raised slogan that “Rohru- Raja nhi chalega” but Dhumal was quick to respond her by calling with her name.
“Asha ji, aap nirash mat hoiye. Ab upar-niche har jagah
hi BJP hai (Asha ji. Don’t be a sad. Now, there is no divide between upper and lower Himachal. BJP is everywhere now,” says Dhumal.
“Tum mujhe Hamirpur se5 seats jitwa ke do, main tumhe
Vikas doonga (Give me all five seats from Hamirpur, I will give you development)” Dhumal has been saying in every address.
A few seats were locked in close battle but now people know that they will get the CM, so I am sure we will win all five in Hamirpur, he admitted while travelling in his SUV.
SEASONED POLITICIAN WITH EAR ON GROUND
While travelling for the next rally scheduled in Samaila village of Nadaunta segment, Dhumal opens a letter sent to him by a senior Brahmin worker of BJP and asks his trusted aide Suresh Kumar to dial the number. “Pandit ji bola de! Dhumal bol rhaa hoon. Prem Kumar Dhumal. Dhyan rakheya ede bele,” Dhumal speaks in Hamirpuri tone. The list is long and the former chief minister is taking a reality check of Sujanpur constituency, he himself is contesting.To Virbhadra’s charges that Dhumal family and his entire Modi government was after him in the last five years, the former chief minister smiles.
“Virbhadra ji must introspect. It was his own sins which have cost him dear,” he says.
Asked if he has ever thought of becoming chief minister, Dhumal says, “I started my career as an LIC agent in Jalandhar. With a humble background, I did not even think of becoming an MLA. But such miracles are possible in the BJP only,” he adds.
Its 8.30 pm but he still has to address two more allies in Bhoranj and Hamirpur segments. “Ab CM banke aaunga aur Vikas deke jayunga,” he told people.