TNR Desk
The Congress has revoked the suspension of its two Himachal Pradesh rebel leaders, Jagjivan Pal from Sullah in Kangra district and Paras Ram from Anni in Kullu, both having been shunted out of the party for alleged anti-party activities during the 2022 Assembly elections.
The order to revoke the suspensions has been issued by Rajeev Shukla, former Union Minister who is the Congress in-charge for Himachal Pradesh. “In line with the recommendation of the chairperson of the state disciplinary committee and keeping in view the forthcoming Lok Sabha election and byelection to six Assembly seats in the state, it is decided that the suspension of ex-MLA Jagjiwan Paul and Paras Ram (Anni) may be revoked. It is hereby recommended that they should be brought back into the party,” read the order issued by Shukla.
Both Paul and Paras Ram had contested the last Assembly elections as Independent after being denied the ticket by the Congress, but lost to BJP nominees. They, however, stood second in the contest, pipping the official candidates of the Congress.
Paul has been a two-term Congress legislator, having won in 2003 and 2012, defeating BJP’s Vipin Singh Parmar each time. In 2007 and 2017, he lost to Vipin Parmar. In 2022, Paul polled 29,558 votes, compared to Parmar’s 36,670 and lost the poll battle by 7,112 votes. The official Congress nominee, Jagdish Chand Sapehia, secured a mere 6,828 votes.
Similarly, Paras Ram had contested the 2022 Assembly elections as an Independent and lost to BJP’s Lokender Kumar, who had joined the saffron party after quitting the CPM. Paras Ram polled 17,355 votes compared to Lokender’s 24,133, losing the election by 6,778 votes. The Congress nominee, Bansi Lal, stood third with 14,224 votes. In 2017, Paras Ram was the Congress candidate and had lost to BJP’s Kishori Lal by 5,983 votes.
