Grassroots Leader and Congress candidate, Anuradha Rana Leads the Charge in Lahul-Spiti Assembly By-election... R duos- Ravi, Ram Lal Find Steep Lahaul-Spiti Peaks all the more steeper...

KEYLONG: Anuradha Rana, a grassroots leader with a humble background, is making waves as the candidate from the Lahul-Spiti assembly constituency.

By her quick smart, grounded steps, Anuradha  has made the snowy  shooting peaks of Lahaul-Spiti all the more steeper for her  two rivals, Ravi Thakur and Ram Lal Markande. 

She walks from village to village from house to house whereas Ravi remains  lethargic and in hangovers and Ram Lal remains overweight depending on transportation to reach out to the remote voters as age is not their side when compared with Anuradha.

Known for her mature political understanding and positive election campaign, she has refrained from making personal attacks against her opponents.

Anuradha’s clear talks  and articulate speech have made her a compelling and better  candidate, says Ajey, a writer and a renowned poet from Lahaul-Spiti. 

Anuradha has focused on advocating for the rights of tribal people and the protection of the environment in Lahul-Spiti, a backward area.

As a young woman of 31 years, she is breaking barriers and receiving a favorable response from women voters.

Anuradha’s main competitors are BJP’s Ravi Thakur, a turncoat and former Congress rebel MLA, and BJP rebel Dr. Ram Lal Markande, who is running as an independent after being denied a ticket.

Their presence is splitting the BJP vote, putting Anuradha at an advantage.

Tribal leader and Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, a Kinnaur MLA, has been campaigning vigorously for her, boosting her visibility and support.

Having toured extensively in villages, Anuradha is getting positive feedback from tribal voters, who are disillusioned with Ravi Thakur and Ram Lal Markande due to their perceived failures.

The tribal  community seems ready to give a chance to a fresh face, aiding Anuradha's campaign. Her candidacy as a woman also resonates well with female voters, said a tribal veteran. 

As the candidate of the ruling Congress government, which will be in power for next  45 months, Anuradha benefits from a historical trend where tribal voters tend to favor the ruling party.

Moreover, her accessibility as the Chairperson of Zila Parishad contrasts sharply with the high-headedness attributed to Ravi and Ram Lal, making her a relatable figure for the common tribal populace.

This identity as the first woman tribal leader contesting the state assembly election, as opposed to Ravi Thakur’s non-tribal heritage, adds to her appeal.

Ravi's  mother, late Lata Thakur was a first woman , but  nontribal  MLA from Lahaul-Spiti and had family terms with then Prime Minister  late Smt Indira Gandhi. But Ravi had lost that advantage by switching sides. 

The Buddhist community's discontent with BJP Mandi Lok Sabha candidate Kangana Ranaut, due to her adverse remarks against the Dalai Lama last year, has also played a role creating turbulence in BJP cadre in entire Mandi  Lok Sabha constituency. 

Recent protests against Kangana's visit to Kaza, the hub of Spiti Subdivision, with slogans and black flags, have hurt BJP’s standing.

This scenario has given both Anuradha Rana and Congress Mandi candidate Vikramaditya Singh an edge in the tribal belts of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur.

But her supporters caution: what role the local  Congress leaders and ticket seekers like Raghuvir Singh Thakur are playing?

But locals say Raghuvir and his supporters are very much in the campaign trail supporting Rana.

With all these factors in play, the big question remains: Will Anuradha be able to convert these advantages into votes? All eyes will be on the election results, set to be announced on June 4.