Richest candidate in Himachal Pradesh seeks votes on development plank

Having already amassed a fortune of rupees 92 crores as tea garden magnate, Brij Behari Lal Butel of Palampur is seeking election to the Himachal Pradesh Assembly for bringing development here.

By Akhilesh

Palampur (Himachal Pradesh), Dec.10 : Having already amassed a fortune of rupees 92 crores as tea garden magnate, Brij Behari Lal Butel of Palampur is seeking election to the Himachal Pradesh Assembly for bringing development here.

Contesting elections on the Congress party ticket, Butel says that he wishes to use his know-how and wealth for the general public in the Palampur constituency of Kangra, the largest district of Himachal Pradesh.

Butel claims to be well-versed with the local residents' expectations and grudges. He asserts faith in reinforcing harmony in the region by putting his wealth into the correct and most appropriate use.

"I believe there are other people as well who have more wealth. I think I won this status because I own some houses and tea gardens, that's it. But if you say that I am the richest man of the region, I truly enjoy this status of being a rich. It sounds good. However, I firmly believe that such wealth could only be of some use if it can provide the poor people with some comforts," said Butel.

'Richie Rich Butel' is also the political advisor to the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

Both the major political parties-- the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress-in Himachal Pradesh, are trying to capitalise on the votes of the poor.

According to Praveen Sharma, the BJP candidate from Palampur, , he is looking forward to lead the youngsters of the region in whom he has seen the prospects of ushering a novel change for the better.

Sharma claims to have captured over the youth vote bank and even believes that the kind of reception the local people have given him, he is assured of his victory.

"Wherever I went I was greeted so nicely by the people. They treated me as a member of their own family and have showered so much of love and care upon me," said Praveen Sharma of the BJP.

However, the local voters here are in no mood to believe any of the political parties. They feel they give hollow assurances.

"They (candidates) come to us only at the time of elections and after that they tend to forget and never bother about our miseries. We do not have proper roads here and nor we have other facilities. The candidates are more concerned about the rich people and they seem to be working for the sake of such people only. We have no value," said Maya Devi, a local villager.

ANI