Day left for nomination withdrawal, both Cong & BJP working overtime to mollify Independents in Himachal
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Ramlal Markanda, Rakesh Chaudhary could pose headache to BJP in Lahaul-Spiti, Dharamshala
The political equations in a few constituencies of Himachal Pradesh have turned intriguing as Independent candidates have thrown their hats into the ring for the upcoming byelections to six Vidhan Sabha seats.
With over 40 Independent nominees vying for victory in both Lok Sabha poll and Assembly byelections, leaders from both the BJP and the Congress have been urging them to withdraw their nominations. The fate of these candidates will be decided on May 17, the deadline for the withdrawal of nominations.
Their failure to withdraw nominations could impact the electoral dynamics not only for the Vidhan Sabha byelections but also for the Lok Sabha poll in Himachal Pradesh.
Several constituencies have become battlegrounds for independent candidates, causing concern for established political parties. In Lahaul-Spiti, the BJP has fielded rebel Congress MLA Ravi Thakur as its candidate, leading to dissent within the party ranks.
Former BJP candidate and minister in the previous Jai Ram Thakur government, Ram Lal Markanda is contesting as an independent from Lahaul-Spiti, adding further complexity to the electoral landscape.
The BJP fears that Markanda’s candidature could harm the party’s prospects, prompting party leaders to initiate efforts to persuade him to withdraw from the race. After failing to secure the ticket from the BJP, Markanda sought candidacy from the Congress, but his request was denied, with the party nominating Anuradha Rana instead.
A similar situation has unfolded in Dharamshala where the BJP has fielded Sudhir Sharma, a rebel Congress MLA, as its candidate. Rakesh Chaudhary, a former BJP candidate, has also entered the fray as an independent candidate after being denied the ticket by the BJP.
The candidature of Markanda and Chaudhary has raised concerns within the BJP, as both candidates command significant support base that could potentially undermine the party’s electoral prospects. Similarly, independent candidate Subhash Snehi is contesting from the Mandi parliamentary constituency, posing a threat to the votes of both BJP and Congress candidates.
As the voting date approaches, the Election Commission is closely monitoring the declarations of assets by candidates to counter any attempts at use of money to make opponents withdraw their candidature.
