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Prepared by Ashok Kumar
The Congress, which had expelled the former Telecom Minister, Sukhram from the Congress eight yeas ago for his alleged involvement in a scam, has embraced him with open arms. But why this sudden U-turn? He is still faced with corruption charges. He is fighting his case in a high court after having been duly convicted. The answer lies in the state people”s disillusionment with Congress government. But for victory the party can swoop to any low point. The party is aware that Sukhram did not earn a bad name among Himachalis in general and among people of his stronghold?Mandi?in particular, for the alleged scam. No wonder his party?Himachal Vikas Party?won enough seats in the 1998 Assembly election. The reason: People of the state credit him with telecom revolution the state witnessed during his ministership. What´s more, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Virbhadra Singh?arch-rival of Sukhram?did not have any compunction in working shoulder to shoulder with him because Virbhadra wants Sukhram”s support to his wife who is contesting from Mandi. And Sukhram, who is no novice in politics, reportedly sought accommodation of his son in return for lending his support. This politics is truly a marriage of convenience.
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