Himachal Pradesh election: Son of soil, torn kurta and an American angle to politics

As Himachal Pradesh goes to election in a single-phase polling in less than a week, we bring you interesting accounts of a former state minister, how a Congress leader was injured and how politicians across party lines are related to each other.

'SON OF SOIL' HARIDAS' CONTRIBUTION

Yashwant Singh Parmar was the first chief minister of Himachal Pradesh. Haridas was a minister in his government. Although Haridar wasn't academically too qualified, he had a perceptive understanding of people and the ability to deal with tough situations. He didn't just sign files, but instead used to write his full name on them. If he accepted something, he used to say, "Haridas agrees". If he didn't, he wrote, "Haridas disagrees."

Haridas once came to know that there was something special about the soil in Bilaspur and the areas adjoining it. Grabbing a fistful of that soil as sample, he came to Vidhan Sabha. He demanded that the soil be tested as it could be put to better industrial use. While there were many who mocked his idea then, it was due to the qualities of this soil that several cement plants were set up here.

WHEN CONGRESS LEADER ANAND SHARMA's KURTA WAS TORN

It was an era when Virbhadra Singh was reigning supreme in Himachal Pradesh. But Pandit Sukhram and former Chief Minister Thakur Ram Lal were desperately eyeing a return to power. It was 1997. By this time, Pandit Sukhram had formed his own party - Himachal Vikas Congress. Ram Lal was often miffed by his party and as many times appeased by them. Soon came a point at which he declared that he would revolt in an unprecedented way. He said that he would hold a congregation of farmers at Parwanoo, which is Himachal's biggest wholesale market, and invited farmers from his constituency Jubbal Kotkhai and Solan.

At this assembly of farmers, journalists and Congress leaders, including Anand Sharma and those from the Virbhadra Singh camp, were waiting for Ram Lal. Before the address to the farmers could begin, clashes broke out among various Congress workers. While Ram Lal managed to escape unhurt, Anand Sharma bore the brunt of the anger of the disgruntled cadres. His kurta were torn and he was injured so severely that he had to be hospitalised at Chandigarh's PGI. The journalists, who suffered injuries, protested by holding a sit-in at the venue itself.

HISTORY OF RELATED POLITICIANS IN HIMACHAL

Samuel Stokes was an American who came to Himachal Pradesh with an apple plant in his hand and then settled here permanently. He participated in India's freedom struggle and later came to be known as Satyanand Stokes. His daughter Satyavati was married in Punjab. But her husband died only a few years later.

Following this incident, she became actively involved in Congress politics. Soon after, the area of Punjab where she lived became a part of Himachal. Satyavati later began to understand Himachal politics and subsequently became a part of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly. It was here that she met and soon got close to the then Chief Minister Yashwant Singh Parmar. After some years, the duo tied the knot. Parmar spent his last days in Satyavati's company.

Meanwhile, Satyavati's sister-in-law Vidya Stokes was also an active member of the Congress. She was believed to be particularly close to Sonia Gandhi. When Vidya was Himachal Pradesh's Congress chief in 2003, there was such a strong wave in her support that she seemed like an automatic chief ministerial choice. Vidya made her debut in politics in 1974 following the demise of Satyanand Stokes' MLA son. She continued as an MLA till 2017.

Meanwhile, Thakur Ram Lal's daughter was married to Yashwant Singh Parmar's son Kush Nahar. However, Ram Lal and Parmar did not share a friendly relationship. Ram Lal had become the chief minister after removing Parmar from the post.

BJP too is no stranger to relationships in Himachal Pradesh politics. Two-time Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal's son Anurag Thakur is married to former Assembly Speaker Gulab Singh Thakur's daughter Shefali Thakur. Gulab Singh Thakur contests election from Joginder Nagar constituency in Mandi district. While Dhumal was the chief minister, Gulab Singh Thakur used to travel in a red-beacon car. Prior to joining the BJP, Gulab Singh Thakur was a member of the Congress party.

(As told to India Today by Editor-in-Chief of Himachal Dastak Hemant Kumar, who has been actively covering the state since 1998.)

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