CM Virbhadra Singh says the father-son duo's exit from the Congress was expected; Sukh Ram has a history of switching loyalties
There was a time when the name of Sukh Ram, a Congress leader from Himachal Pradesh, had become synonymous with that of the archetypal corrupt Indian politician. In 1996, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had seized Rs 3.6 crore in cash stashed in suitcases from Sukh Ram’s residence. He was the communication minister in the PV Narasimha Rao government. The episode came to be known as the ‘Telecom scam’.
On Sunday, Anil Sharma, Sukh Ram’s 61-year-old son, confirmed that his 90-year-old father and he had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He also announced that he would contest the Mandi Assembly seat on the BJP ticket.
BJP Lok Sabha member Anurag Thakur tweeted: “Welcome to BJP Anil Sharmaji. Best wishes to you for taking a stand against corruption and joining Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for new India”. Congress Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh is battling corruption-related cases. The BJP was yet to release its list of candidates at the time of filing of this report. The election is scheduled for November 9.
Sharma was the rural development minister in the Virbhadra Singh government. The CM said the exit of the father-son duo from the Congress was expected. He also said Sukh Ram had a reputation of switching loyalties. “He is the first well-known ‘Aaya Ram Gaya Ram’ in Himachal Pradesh,” he said in Shimla.
Sukh Ram, born into a not particularly well-to-do Brahmin family in Himachal Pradesh in 1927, has had a rags to riches life. He was a struggling lawyer who turned to politics and made good. His son, Anil Sharma, followed him into politics. Incidentally, the family has another claim to fame. Sukh Ram’s grandson, and Anil’s son, Aayush Sharma married actor Salman Khan’s sister Arpita a few years ago....READ MORE
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