‘Loyal’ BJP dissidents who were denied ticket in 2022 Himachal

The Newz Radar

MANDI: Following the BJP’s decision to nominate the six disqualified Congress rebel MLAs as candidates in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly byelections, a growing number of BJP leaders have been resigning in protest, posing a challenge for the party.

A number of such leaders who are “loyal to the BJP” but were denied the ticket in the 2022 Assembly elections convened in Pandoh (Mandi) on March 27 (2024) to strategise for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The meeting, initiated on the suggestion of former BJP MLA from Drang Colonel Indar Singh witnessed the participation of prominent figures with ties to the Mandi parliamentary constituency.

Among them were former MLAs Tejwant Negi from Kinnaur and Kishori Lal from Ani, former chairman of HPMC from Kullu Ram Singh, former Mandi MP Maheshwar Singh’s son Hiteshwar Singh, Praveen Sharma from Mandi and former minister Roop Singh Thakur’s son Abhishek Thakur from Sundernagar and Jawahar Thakur.

Barring Inder Singh and Jawahar Thakur, all others had contested as independent after being denied the BJP ticket in 2022. All eyes are now on these leaders as Himachal braces for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections and the crucial byelections that could decide the fate of the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government.

One of the leaders said whichever party, be it the BJP or the Congress, persuaded them stood to gain their allegiance and that of their supporters. “While the BJP has offered refuge to Congress dissidents, its treatment of its own dissenting members remains unaddressed,” he said. Reports suggest that these dissidents may even field their own candidate in the elections by joining hands.

Jawahar Thakur, when approached for comment, confirmed the meeting, emphasising ongoing deliberations to determine future actions.