Big challenge for Congress and BJP in trying to get out of the internal strife in Himachal

The temperature of politics in the hilly cold state of Himachal Pradesh has remained hot for the last one month. Congress's tussle came to the fore in the Rajya Sabha elections and now its effect can be seen in the Lok Sabha elections also. While the Congress has recovered from internal strife and is busy preparing for the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP faces the challenge of repeating the performance like the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In fact, Congress formed the government by registering a landslide victory in the 2022 assembly elections. After forming the government here, Congress is hoping that its performance in this Lok Sabha election will be even better.

Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu's tussle with state president Pratibha Singh and her son Vikramaditya Singh came to the fore in the Rajya Sabha elections. Due to this, Congress MLAs cross-voted and defeated their own candidate despite having majority. Its effect can now be seen in the Lok Sabha elections.

However, now Sukhu and Vikramaditya are trying to normalize the situation by showing solidarity on the stage. On the other hand, BJP national president J.P. Being Nadda's home state, the question of winning all four seats is linked to the party's prestige.

BJP has won in the announcement of candidates. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur and current MP from Shimla (SC) Suresh Kumar Kashyap have been declared candidates from Hamirpur. Candidates are yet to be declared in Kangra and Mandi. Whereas Congress has not declared even a single ticket. The ticket of Mandi MP Pratibha Singh is considered confirmed.

In the Lok Sabha elections held in the year 2019, BJP had won all four seats, but in the by-election held in Mandi in the year 2021, Pratibha Singh, wife of late Virbhadra Singh, surprised everyone by winning.