The illogical aspect of politics is in full display in the state where a large number of residents are viewing the corruption charges against former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh very differently from the fresh round of accusations against BJP chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and his sons - Arun and Anurag Thakur - that seems to be putting the saffron party down.

Asked why this was so, S Alok, a former IAS officer, said: "First of all most people do not believe that Virbhadra is dishonest. Everyone knows where his assets are and in his 17-and-a-half-year tenure as chief minister he did not add to his known houses. Presuming that allegations of his accepting money in the ISPAT deal are true, people say that the money has then come to Himachal."

But in case of the Dhumals, it is the opposite.

Alok said: "They are accused of making money in the state but have taken it out to other states, including Punjab, Gurgaon and Delhi. Himachalis have a deep resentment against them on this count."