Lok Sabha elections 2019: ‘Chamba got backward status, despite electing two MPs for 40 years’

DHARAMSHALA: Once Chamba district was among the richest areas of the country before independence. Presently, This district is divided in two parliamentary constituencies, Kangra and Chamba, gets two representatives for Lok Sabha every time but despite that this was declared as backward district of Himachal Pradesh in January 2018.
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The practice of electing two MPS in every general election is prevailing from last more than 40 years.
With the BJP MP Shanta Kumar failed to keep his promises made for this region, resentment is prevailing among the people of Chamba. They have taken to social media advocating that this area needs its local leader as Member of Parliament.
“We have lot of troubles, more than 200 villages remained in dark after snowfall these winters for weeks due to failure of transformers in the area” said Vinod Rana, a local activist from Chamba who runs his small business of Chamba souvenirs.
BJP had promised cement plant in last general elections for this area to fight out poverty and unemployment.
Shanta Kumar said that formalities were completed but no company turned out for investment and now state government is again making the efforts to facilitate the companies. “The project will come up for sure in future” he had said in a recent interaction with media.
In congress, the name of Asha Kumari, the party state affairs in-charge for Punjab, is taking rounds to be declared as candidate from Kangra. Kumari is also the sitting MLA from Dalhousie area of Chamba district.
But possibilities are rare for Kumari as Chamba has only four assembly segments in Kangra parliamentary constituency out of total 17 segments.
There are no possibilities of a native candidate in BJP, said sources.
No party is going to field native candidate from Mandi as out of 17 segments in Mandi parliamentary, Chamba has only one Bharmour.
Congress district president of Chamba, Neeraj Nayyar said that there is a demand among the people as this area never had its MP for last almost five decades.
“Most of the times MPs are from Kangra or Mandi as most of the constituencies are from there. But final call is to be taken by the party high command” he said.
BJP district president of Chamba, DS Thakur said that in every election there is a process that someone should apply for the ticket only then party high command considers fielding him.
Chamba district was an independent constituency before 1971. In 1962 Chatar Singh became the first MP from Chamba and then in 1967 it was Veer Chand. Now from last about 48 years the district is awaiting for its own MP.
People say that MP rarely visits the district after they are voted to power.