JP Nadda once had to quit Dhumal govt in Himachal, now he edges out ex-CM’s son Anurag from Modi cabinet
In a surprising turn of events, Anurag Thakur, the Hamirpur MP who previously handled the portfolios of Sports, Youth Affairs and Information and Broadcasting in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s NDA-2 government, has not been included in the Union Cabinet this time. Despite securing a fifth consecutive electoral victory, expectations of Anurag’s ministerial appointment have been dashed.
Sources suggest that an unfavourable internal report led to the inclusion of Jagat Prakash Nadda in the cabinet from the Himachal Pradesh quota instead of Anurag. This decision is seen as a significant setback for the family of Anurag Thakur and his father and former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. The roots of this development trace back to 2010 when JP Nadda resigned from his post as Forest Minister in the state government following disagreements with Dhumal. Now, Nadda’s inclusion has directly impacted Dhumal’s son Anurag.
Himachal Pradesh, with only four Lok Sabha seats, typically cannot afford to have more than one representative in the Union Cabinet due to its small size. Additionally, the formation of a coalition government this term, owing to the BJP not achieving a full majority, necessitated the consideration of allied parties.
Defeat in Assembly by-elections
Party insiders indicate that a faction opposed to Prem Kumar Dhumal and Anurag Thakur has presented a report to the party high command, attributing the BJP’s defeat in the Sujanpur, Kutlehar and Gagret Assembly by-elections within the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency to Anurag. Specifically, the Dhumal family has been criticised for the losses in Kutlehar and Sujanpur. In 2017, Prem Kumar Dhumal lost Sujanpur to Rajinder Rana, who, despite being backed by BJP this time, was defeated by Congress’ Captain Ranjit Singh Rana.
In Kutlehar, BJP’s candidate, Congress rebel Devinder Kumar Bhutto, also lost. Dhumal’s close associate and former minister Virendra Kanwar was otherwise the BJP contender from Kutlehar.
Organisational responsibilities
Another speculated reason for Anurag’s exclusion is the possibility of him being assigned significant organisational duties. With JP Nadda’s term as national president ending on June 30, there are talks of a major reshuffle within the party. Anurag might be appointed as the national general secretary, a position that would require his focus away from ministerial responsibilities.
Indications from Amit Shah
During a poll campaign event in Amb in Una district, Home Minister Amit Shah had hinted at Anurag’s potential ministerial role. Shah’s comments suggested that Anurag was a prime candidate for a ministerial position, fuelling local expectations.
Anurag, who has a notable background in cricket, was awarded the Sansad Ratna Award in January 2019 and became a commissioned officer in the Territorial Army in 2016, the first BJP MP to achieve this. Before his political career, he captained the Punjab and North Zone cricket teams and led the Himachal Pradesh cricket team in the Ranji Trophy in 2000. He also served as the Joint Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India starting in May 2016.
