Himachal BJP likely to get new president anytime soon, will Kangra break 35-year jinx?

MLAs Bikram Thakur, Vipin Parmar, MP Rajeev Bhardwaj among frontrunners

KANGRA: After a long suspense and organisational elections spanning several months, the Himachal Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to get its new president on Sunday (February 23, 2025).

While there are several frontrunners for the post, a question being widely debated in political circles is whether anyone from Kangra district would make the cut this time and break the 35-year jinx.

Saffron stalwart Shanta Kumar was the last leader from the politically significant Kangra who had headed the Himachal Pradesh BJP from 1986 to 1990.

Bikram Thakur, Jaswan-Pragpur MLA and former Himachal Pradesh minister for Industry, Transport and Labour and Employment; Sulah MLA Vipin Parmar, who remained the Assembly Speaker, and Kangra MP Dr Rajeev Bhardwaj are among the frontrunners for the post.

Why is Kangra district significant

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Analysts said the likelihood of a leader from Kangra being appointed to the post is more as the BJP would be looking to cash in on the “negative sentiment” against the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government.

Unlike in the past when Kangra got the lion’s share in the government, the Sukhu government has appointed only two ministers from the district — Chander Kumar (Agriculture) and Yadvinder Goma (Sports and Youth Affairs).

By giving the presidentship to Kangra, the Himachal BJP may plan to launch much in advance an aggressive campaign for the 2027 Assembly elections, said the analysts.

Jamwal, Satti, Sikander also in race

Kangra sends maximum the 15 MLAs to the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha and anyone winning the maximum constituencies in the district usually forms the government.

Una MLA Satpal Singh Satti, Bilaspur MLA Trilok Jamwal and Rajya Sabha MP Sikander Kumar are also learnt to be in the race. Trilok Jamwal is considered close to Union Health Minister and BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda as both belong to Bilaspur.

Satti has had impactful stints earlier as state party president for three consecutive terms from January 2010 to 2020. Incumbent BJP state president Dr Rajeev Bindal, who took the charge in April 2023, too would be eyeing an extension, though, as per sources, it was unlikely to happen.

Why Jai Ram met PM Modi, Amit Shah

Though there are speculations that the BJP high command may even consider former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur for the post, analysts opine against this while arguing that the saffron party would then have to hunt for a new Leader of Opposition, which too was a cumbersome task.

Jai Ram’s name had emerged following his recent meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, the two BJP top guns whose decisions are said to be final for the party.

Executive Editor – Sunil Chadha