S Gopal Puri
Dharamshala: A quiet dinner at the residence of BJP MLA Sudhir Sharma in Rakkar, Dharamshala, on Friday night has created an unexpected stir across the political corridors of Kangra and Hamirpur districts.
What appeared to be a simple social evening is now being viewed as a significant move in the reshaping of the BJP’s internal dynamics in Himachal Pradesh.
According to sources, the dinner was attended by former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur along with select MLAs and senior leaders from the Kangra and Hamirpur parliamentary constituencies.
The meeting, insiders say, was part of a larger political outreach aimed at strengthening ‘Team Jairam’ in lower Himachal ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Interestingly, the dinner was not attended by the BJP’s district or organizational leaders from Kangra or Dharamshala.
Only close associates of Jairam Thakur were invited, fueling speculation about a strategic alignment being crafted outside the formal party structure.
Behind the scenes, discussions reportedly revolved around rebuilding the BJP’s base in Kangra, energizing supporters, and consolidating ground networks across 33 Assembly segments in the Kangra and Hamirpur regions.
The evening also witnessed candid conversations about recent internal tensions—particularly the sloganeering in favor of Union Minister Anurag Thakur during Jairam’s Mandi visit, which had exposed factional fault lines within the party.
Sources claim that Jairam Thakur used this Dharamshala visit to signal the emergence of two key lieutenants who could play pivotal roles in the upcoming political phase in the region.
Meanwhile, reactions from local BJP leaders have been mixed. Some view the gathering as a strategic revival effort, while others interpret it as a display of growing factionalism.
The controversy deepened when expelled BJP leader Kripal Parmar took a veiled dig at Jairam Thakur on social media, and a Dharamshala-based BJP functionary criticized Sudhir Sharma—reflecting rising unease within party ranks.
Insiders admit that many in the BJP cadre still struggle to fully accept Sudhir Sharma’s Congress-rooted political background, though most have chosen to remain silent for now.
As one party observer put it, “What happened in Dharamshala may look like a simple dinner—but in Himachal’s political landscape, it might just mark the beginning of a new alignment.”
Whether this late-night “Dinner Diplomacy” reshapes the balance of power within the BJP’s Himachal unit will only become clear as Mission 2027 gathers momentum.
