Shimla: Seven prominent saffron party leaders are in the contention for the post of Himachal Pradesh BJP president, an appointment for which intense lobbying is underway
Lobbying for the post of has intensified as the party is gearing up to hold organisational elections.
Jitendra Singh appointed election officer
The BJP high command has appointed Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh as the election officer for the state. He is expected to visit Himachal within the next few days and oversee the election process, which must be completed by January 15.
The decision was finalised during a national workshop held in Delhi on December 28. Along with electing the state president, three national council members from Himachal will also be chosen.
Additionally, Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has been assigned the significant responsibility of managing the BJP’s elections in Ladakh.
Balancing caste and regional factors
Seven prominent leaders are reportedly in the race for the state president’s post. Among the frontrunners are former state presidents Satpal Satti and Vipin Singh Parmar.
If a consensus isn’t reached on them, other strong contenders include incumbent president Rajeev Bindal, Bikram Thakur, Randhir Sharma, Trilok Jamwal and Dr Rajeev Bhardwaj.
Sources indicate that the new president would be selected based on caste and regional factors. With Kangra district being crucial for electoral success, leaders like Vipin Singh Parmar, Bikram Thakur and Dr Rajeev Bhardwaj — hailing from Kangra — are strong contenders.
Know about the key names in focus
Vipin Singh Parmar: Known for his organisational skills, Parmar has served in various party roles and held significant portfolios, including Health Minister and Speaker.
Satpal Satti: A three-term MLA from Una, Satti served as state president for nine years and is known for his aggressive stance against opposition parties.
Bikram Thakur: An MLA from Jaswan-Pragpur, he is an influential BJP leader from Kangra district. He has remained the minister for Industry, Transport, Labour and Employment from 2017-22 during the tenure of CM Jai Ram Thakur.
Dr Rajeev Bindal: Although he resigned as president in 2020 amid corruption allegations, Bindal made a comeback in 2023, but his recent electoral loss in some of the Himachal Assembly bypolls may weigh against him.
Trilok Jamwal: A close aide of BJP national president JP Nadda, Jamwal could benefit from his loyalty and organisational acumen.
Randhir Sharma: He is a three-term MLA from Sri Naina Deviji Assembly constituency in Bilaspur district.
Dr Rajeev Bhardwaj: He is a first-time MP from Kangra district and had trounced Congress veteran Anand Sharma during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The decision by the BJP high command is expected to balance caste, regional representation, and organizational strategy to strengthen the party for the upcoming elections.