Shimla: The BJP announced the unanimous election of nine district presidents across Himachal Pradesh on Sunday (January 5, 2024) as part of the ongoing process to elect leadership in 16 of its 17 organisational districts.
Dr Rajeev Bhardwaj, the party’s state election officer and vice-president, confirmed the appointments.
The newly elected district heads include Dheeraj Naryal (Chamba), Ragini Rakwal (Palampur), Ajay Khatta (Dehra), Amit Sood (Kullu), Hiralal (Sundernagar), Nihal Chand Sharma (Mandi), Ratan Singh Pal (Solan), Dheeraj Gupta (Sirmaur) and Ringzin Hariyappa (Lahaul-Spiti).
Elections for the remaining seven districts will be conducted on January 6.
Factionalism amid leadership change
In Dehra, Ajay Khatta’s unanimous election as district president was overshadowed by visible factionalism. While senior leaders like MLA Bikram Thakur and former minister Ravinder Singh Ravi supported the process, notable absentees included former MLA Hoshiar Singh and former minister Ramesh Dhawala.
Sources said Hoshiar Singh deliberately distanced himself from the election, signalling internal disagreements. Dhawala alleged he was not invited to the event, expressing concerns about being sidelined in key organisational decisions.
The apparent divisions within the Dehra unit highlight the challenges the BJP faces in maintaining unity as it gears up for upcoming electoral battles.