Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has largely spearheaded Congress’ campaigning in Himachal Pradesh that goes to polls on November 12.
Senior leader and a Congress chief ministerial probable Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu even went to the extent of saying that there is no bigger star campaigner than Priyanka Gandhi, when asked if the party was missing Rahul Gandhi’s presence in Himachal poll canvassing.
However, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party seems to be undeterred by Gandhi’s spirited show.
In an exclusive interview to The New Indian’s Special Correspondent Alok Singh, two time Chief Minister and veteran BJP leader Prem Kumar Dhumal said that the last time Priyanka campaigned for Congress in a state, the party lost deposit in several hundred seats.
He also seemed unfazed by Aam Aadmi Party’s entry into the electoral ring. He highlighted his son I&B Minister Anurag Thakur’s role in wiping out AAP’s state cadre and brining them into the saffron party’s fold.
Excerpts from the interview:
Alok : How do you see the Aam Aadmi Party’s entry in HP elections ? What share of vote will the party be able to take away from Congress or BJP?
Dhumal : There is no scope of a third front in the state as of now. AAP is already finished as its full leadership on the request of Anurag ji has joined the BJP.
Alok : Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi says Congress will give 1 lakh jobs to the people. What do you have to say about that?
Dhumal : Priyanka Gandhi’s father was with me in the Parliament. I don’t want to talk much about her, but bechari… when she was in-charge of UP elections, Congress had to lose the security deposit on at least 300 seats.
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