In Himachal Assembly byelections, BJP facing rebellion in all

TNR Desk

With the BJP fielding Congress turncoats in the byelections to the six Himachal Pradesh Assembly seats on June 1, discontent has been brewing in the ranks of the saffron party in almost all the constituencies.

Though the BJP is known for its discipline in handling rebellion, the ambitions of seasoned leaders have been posing a challenge. The influx of rebels and independents into the BJP fold has sparked apprehension and discord among the existing party members.

The repercussions of the BJP’s decision to field the Congress rebels in the constituencies where the BJP suffered defeat in the 2022 Assembly elections are there for all to see. The BJP leaders whom the six former Congress legislators had defeated are concerned about their political future and have been making their dissent known.

The Congress, sensing an opportunity, is closely monitoring the angry BJP members and engaging in discussions to lure them into the party fold. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s subtle gestures hint at the Congress’s strategy, as evidenced by the delay in announcing candidates for the Lok Sabha elections and the Assembly bypoll.

The BJP ticket to Ravi Thakur has fuelled discontent in Lahaul-Spiti where former minister Ram Lal Markanda has quit the party along with all district office-bearers. Another former minister, Virendra Kanwar, is upset in Kutlehar where the BJP has bet on Congress rebel Davinder Kumar Bhutto. Kanwar stayed away from a function organised to welcome Bhutto back home a day ago.

In Nalagarh, the induction of former Independent MLA KL Thakur into the BJP has angered former MLA Lakhwinder Rana, who himself had quit the Congress before the election to join the BJP.

In Dehra, former minister Ramesh Dhawala is miffed over the induction of former MLA Hoshyar Singh into the party. In Gagret, BJP leader Rakesh Kalia has already resigned from the BJP after the bypoll ticket was allotted to Congress rebel Chaitanya Sharma.

In Dharamshala, BJP leader Rakesh Chaudhary says he will fight as an Independent against Congress turncoat Sudhir Sharma. In Sujanpur, BJP leader Ranjeet Singh too has raised the banner of revolt against the ticket being allotted to Rajinder Rana. Similar is the situation in Barsar where the BJP has bet on Congress rebel ID Lakhanpal.