The political history of Rohru is set to witness a new chapter. For nearly 20 years, Union Minister for Steel Virbhadra Singh maintained his hold in the constituency as he ruled the state for five terms, and also when he sat in the Opposition. However, with him moving to the Centre and the Congress on the backfoot after denial of party ticket to Partibha Singh, Virbhadra’s wife and former Lok Sabha member, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party appears confident of storming the strong fortress of the ‘Raja’.

As Rohru goes to polls on Saturday to fill the vacancy created by Virbhadra Singh’s election to the Lok Sabha earlier this year, the Congress may see a different wind blowing in the belt, which never allowed the BJP to gain a foothold in the past.

Contrary to its track record in all elections, the BJP is finding the grounds a bit comfortable this time. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who spent five days campaigning here and had most of his ministers camp in Rohru for a fortnight, has high stakes and finds it an opportunity to extend the BJP base to the erstwhile Congress country.

If the prevailing trend is any indication, it is going to be a tough battle for the Congress, though Virbhadra has undoubtedly, and single-handedly, brought around a change in the scene after serious campaigning in the last few days.

Party leaders, after denial of ticket to Pratibha Singh, had given up their hopes for a respectable fight. It was initially a tough task for the party to get down to campaigning. But things have now somewhat changed for the better in the Congress camp.

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