Even as the Congress high command started to consider Aastha Agnihotri, daughter of Deputy Chief Minister, Mukesh Agnihotri as a potential candidate against BJP leader and Union Minister, Anurag Thakur in Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat, Aastha has declined to fight the election just over two months of demise of her mother, Simmi Agnihotri.
“I had to politely say ‘No’ to the party high command. I am honoured that the Congress high command and party workers consider me as a potential candidate for such a big election. But I am not in a position to contest as I am battling with my little things after the death of my mother, who used to do everything for me.
My father and I are shocked and shaken from inside. Still, my father is keeping a bold face and is working for the party sincerely in such a sad personal moment,” Aastha told a local channel.
Aastha, who is in her late 20s and has done doctorate in law, has yet to enter active politics. She said although it was a matter of happiness that she was being chosen by the party to contest against a personality like Anurag Thakur. “But I am not able to feel this happiness even in the absence of my mother,” she said in a choked voice. She said anybody who has lost his or her mother suddenly like her would understand her feelings better.
She said she had never imagined or thought about politics while she was getting educated. “I thought education would open the doors of happiness for me in life. However, had it not been for my father’s political stature and my mother’s sacrifice, I would not have had such an identity in politics. I am grateful to God for that,” she said.
She said she would try to campaign for the party in the Lok Sabha polls.
Aastha’s father, Mukesh Agnihotri is MLA from Haroli in Una district for the fifth time in a row.
Congress sources said Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had given the name of former MLA from Una, Satpal Singh Raizada, who lost to former BJP President, Satpal Singh Satti in the 2022 Assembly polls.
However, based on its feedback, the party high command floated the name of Aastha Agnihotri and sensing some reluctance, the central leadership asked Mukesh Agnihotri to take some time to decide. Sources said the high command is of the view keeping with Mukesh Agnihotri’s stronghold in Una district, his daughter could be a better choice.
Sources close to Mukesh Agnihotri said he may avoid launching Aastha in Lok Sabha polls and may prefer her as a candidate from Haroli in the next Assembly polls.
Party sources said Aastha’s name was also doing the rounds for the adjoining Gagret Assembly constituency, which is going for a by-poll on June 1, with BJP fielding Congress rebel (disqualified from Assembly), Chaitanya Sharma.
Aastha has however termed this proposal within the party circles as totally impractical.
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