Six MLAs disqualified, Himachal Congress struggles to find suitable candidates to take on ‘confident’ BJP
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The Newz Radar
MANDI: Amid the political crisis in Himachal Pradesh, the Congress finds itself grappling with diminished prospects if it fields its legislators in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. With only 34 Congress members currently holding seats in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly after the disqualification of six rebels, the path to securing victory in the Lok Sabha elections from the state appears difficult for the party.
From Mandi, sitting MP and Congress state president Pratibha Singh’s candidacy appears certain. Given the shifting political dynamics in the state, any significant deviation in ticket distribution between the BJP and Congress would not be unforeseen.
Initial preparations had been underway to field prominent figures such as Dhani Ram Shandil, Vinay Kumar or Vinod Sultanpuri from the Shimla parliamentary constituency. Similarly, considerations were made for candidates like Raghubir Singh Bali, Asha Kumar and Minister Chander Kumar from Kangra. However, shifting political dynamics have prompted discussions among party leaders regarding alternative candidate options. An independent candidate, Rajesh Sharma, a leading businessman, is also eyeing the Congress ticket from Kangra.
The selection of candidates for the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency, represented by the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, remains a subject of intense debate. The party is also deliberating on potential candidates like Vikramaditya Singh for key parliamentary constituencies such as Hamirpur or Kangra, signalling an intent to rejuvenate its electoral prospects.
In the backdrop of recent political developments, the looming question remains: Who will emerge as the frontrunner against Anurag Singh Thakur in Hamirpur, leaving Congress in a quandary?
The political landscape in Himachal Pradesh underwent a seismic shift following the revelation of cross-voting by six legislators during the recent Rajya Sabha election.
Subsequently, six legislators were disqualified for their absence during the crucial budget passage in the Assembly, resulting in a reduction of the Congress’s legislative count from 40 to 34. This decrease has further narrowed the Assembly’s total count from 68 to 62, making the attainment of a majority a more challenging, necessitating at least 32 legislators.
In light of these developments, the Congress is keen to avoid any further erosion of its legislative strength in the Assembly. Consequently, discussions have been initiated to explore alternative candidate options. Notable names emerging from Shimla include Dayal Pyari, Yashpal Tanayak and Sohan Lal.
Meanwhile, speculation surrounds the potential candidacy of Asha Kumari and Ajay Mahajan from Kangra, with Thakur Ramlal and Satpal Raizada being considered from Hamirpur.
