The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Himachal Pradesh): The election campaign in Himachal Pradesh has descended into a bitter exchange of personal attacks and name-calling, with terms like “Kale naag” (black snake), “bigda shehzada” (spoilt prince), and “husn pari” (fairy) becoming common. This sharp rhetoric follows the cross-voting by six Congress rebels in the Rajya Sabha polls in February, continuing into the current Lok Sabha election campaign.
Former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar expressed concern over the deteriorating level of politics, stating that the current discourse is a new low. Even leaders known for their harsh speeches find such behavior unacceptable when directed at them.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also condemned the rhetoric, noting that such behavior goes against the state’s culture. However, his own comments against Congress leaders who cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha polls were labeled offensive by the BJP. Sukhu referred to these rebels as “kale naag” and “bikau” (on sale), continuing his “bikau versus tikau” (durable) rhetoric during his campaign.
In the Rajya Sabha polls, six Congress rebels and three independent MLAs voted for BJP nominee Harsh Mahajan, later joining the BJP and contesting assembly bypolls on BJP tickets. At a rally in Kutlehar, Sukhu reportedly remarked, “Bhutto ko Kooto (beat Bhutto),” targeting Congress rebel Devinder Kumar Bhutto. The BJP filed a complaint accusing Sukhu of inciting violence.
BJP’s candidate from Mandi, Kangana Ranaut, has been at the center of controversies since her nomination. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate faced backlash after posting a derogatory remark about Ranaut, which she later removed, claiming someone else had posted it. Ranaut has called Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Vikramaditya Singh “bada pappu” (big dummy) and “chhota pappu” (small dummy), respectively. She also criticized the Gandhi-Nehru family, calling the Congress “a disease” and “termite” that had plagued the country until 2014.
Pratibha Singh, state Congress president and mother of Vikramaditya Singh, referred to Ranaut as a “pari” (fairy), suggesting people only come to see her for her looks. In response, Ranaut’s mother, Asha Ranaut, criticized Congress leaders for making such comments, highlighting the disrespect it shows towards women.
Senior citizens in Himachal Pradesh have also expressed dismay over the indecent language used in the campaign. Om Prakash Sood, an 88-year-old businessman, lamented the erosion of civility in the political discourse, stating that such low-level campaigns were unprecedented in the state, known for its respectful and decent culture.