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It is advantage Congress in Hamirpur

By Kanwar Yogendra

HAMIRPUR (HP), MAY 9. The Hamirpur Parliamentary constituency in Himachal is probably one of the most literate constituencies in the country. The literacy rate is more than 80 per cent. But the key to decide the fate of politicians here lies in the hands of women voters who are known to vote en bloc in the absence of their male counterparts, majority of whom are serving in the armed forces.

The society here, though literate, is considered highly conservative and male dominating. The "purdah system'' is still in vogue. The constituency has a maximum number of war widows and a highest ratio and population of ex-servicemen in the country. The area is known to be a BJP citadel as some prominent politicians of the party including the former Chief Minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal, comes from this constituency. Seventeen Assembly segments of three districts of Una, Hamirpur and Bilaspur and the Dehra Sub-Division of Kangra come under this constituency.

The Congress has fielded Ram Lal Thakur, who is a Minister for Industry. He was reluctant to fight the Lok Sabha elections just like his Cabinet colleagues in Kangra and Mandi Parliamentary constituencies. The BJP on the other hand has fielded its two- time and sitting MP, Suresh Chandel, from this seat.

The Congress campaign peaked gradually and got a boost when the party chief, Sonia Gandhi, addressed a huge rally at Luhnu ground on the banks of Gobind Sagar. With the Congress Government in the State, Mr Thakur this time, who was defeated during the last elections, has a clear edge now.

Another factor that is helping Mr Thakur is the merger of the Himachal Vikas Congress with the Congress. A number of its prominent leaders, including Gyan Chand Rattan, Krishan Kumar Kaushal, Shiv Ram, Baldev Thakur, Manoram Chauhan, Asha Ram and Ashok Sharma, had recently joined the Congress.

As both the candidates belong to the Rajput community, the Congress is also concentrating on the OBC population.

The infighting in BJP is also helping the Congress candidate

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