Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s Wife to Make Poll Debut From Dehra: Who is Kamlesh Thakur?

New Delhi: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's wife, Kamlesh Thakur, is all set to make her poll debut. Thakur will be contesting the Dehra assembly bypoll slated to be held on July 10. 

Sukhu's wife Kamlesh Thakur's name appear in the list of candidates released by Congress general secretary K C Venugopal on Tuesday. She has been fielded from the Dehra seat against two-time Independent MLA Hoshiyar Singh, who is contesting this election on a BJP ticket.

Who is Kamlesh Thakur? 

Born on April 2, 1970, in Nalsooha village in Dehra subdivision of Kangra district, Kamlesh Thakur is an MA in Political Science from the Government College Chandigarh. She also holds PG Diploma in Computer Application. Kamlesh Thakur has an interest in social service, particularly in the area of women empowerment. Over the past 20 years, she has been an active member of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee.

All About Dehra Constituency 

The Dehra constituency was carved out after delimitation in 2010. In the first election held after that in 2012, Ravinder Singh Ravi of the BJP secured victory. While Independent candidate Hoshiyar Singh was elected twice in 2017 and 2022.  The Congress party has never won this seat. 

Didn't Want Wife to Contest Polls: Sukhu 

Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that he did not want his wife to contest elections, adding that the Congress high command insisted upon her candidature. "I was not willing that my wife contests elections but could not refuse to the Congress High command" Sukhu told reporters late on Tuesday night. He said his wife emerged as the front-runner in the party survey but he still did not want her to contest as he believed only one person from the family to be in politics.

He said the party leadership had told him during the Lok Sabha elections too that Thakur should contest the elections "but I was not willing". "This time again when the High Command insisted, I could not refuse" given what the political scenario in the state demanded.

"But given the political scenario in the state, we needed a strong candidate to contest from the Dehra assembly constituency. My wife hails from Dehra, her family members live there and even the panchayat representatives wanted her to contest and I could not say no to the High Command. I had earlier said that 'Dehra is mera' and my wife would represent me in Dehra for the next three-and-a-half years and ensure development of the area," Sukhu said. 

(With PTI inputs)