Rebels Rakesh Chaudhary, Ramlal Markanda to pose challenge

BJP rebels Ramlal Markanda and Rakesh Chaudhary have emerged as fresh challenges for both the saffron party and the Congress in the June 1 Assembly byelections from Lahaul-Spiti and Dharamshala.

In Lahaul-Spiti, the BJP has fielded Congress turncoat Ravi Thakur as its candidate. Dissatisfied with the move, Markanda, a former minister in the previous Jai Ram Thakur government, has announced his candidature as an Independent.

In the 2022 Assembly elections, Markanda had lost to Ravi by 1,616 votes. A three-term MLA, Markanda had been eyeing the Congress ticket, but the party chose to field its zila parishad member Anuradha Rana.

In Dharamshala too, Chaudhary was eyeing the Congress ticket and he even met Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in the town during his recent visit. The Congress chose former Mayor Devendra Jaggi as its candidate while the BJP has fielded Congress turncoat Sudhir Sharma. Chaudhary had lost to Sudhir in 2022 by 3,285 votes.

Whether Markanda and Chaudhary file their nomination papers and remain in the contention would be known only after May 17, the last date for withdrawals. Should these leaders choose to contest as independent, it could potentially harm both the BJP and the Congress in the upcoming by-elections as their votes may split.

Jaggi, Chief Minister Sukhu’s preferred candidate for the Dharamshala byelection, has garnered support within the party, marked by his top ranking in party surveys. Jaggi’s close ties with the Chief Minister, coupled with Sukhu’s efforts to secure victory in Dharamshala, underscore the significance of the election. The Chief Minister’s repeated visits to Dharamshala emphasise the importance he places on this contest.