lok-sabha-elections

Updated: Mar 15, 2019 13:19 IST

Voices of dissent may get louder in the ruling BJP in Himachal Pradesh with many leaders staking claim to the four Lok Sabha seats in the state amid reports that the party core committee is keen to renominate all the sitting MPs in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Former Union minister Sukhram’s grandson Ashray Sharma has expressed his desire to contest from Mandi. His father, Himachal power minister Anil Sharma, had joined the BJP ahead of 2017 assembly elections. “Our family is in politics for over four decades. My grandfather has been Lok Sabha member thrice and (my) father is a minister and Rajya Sabha member. Our family has worked extensively for the development of Mandi,” said Ashray Sharma, who has been touring different areas of the constituency. “I will continue my tour and visit Delhi later this week,” he added.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state chief Satpal Singh Satti, who is busy preparing campaign strategies for the party, sought to underplay Ashray’s claim. “The final decision on ticket distribution rests with the party high command. Many people, who are not even party members, are also demanding BJP tickets,” Satti said.

Also Read | Lok Sabha election 2019: Issues, key players and more on Himachal Pradesh

Another BJP ticket aspirant is Brigadier (Rtd) Kushal Thakur, who has been leading an agitation for the past four years against “low compensation” paid to farmers for the land acquired for the four-laning of the Nagchala-Manali stretch of Kiratpur-Manali highway.

Former IAS officer HN Kashyap, another ticket aspirant, has expressed hope that the party would consider the survey conducted by the high command. Kashyap is keen to contest election from Shimla. “I have already toured all the assembly segments in Shimla Lok Sabha constituency and I would continue my reach-out campaign,” he said.

Meanwhile, some Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) leaders are said to be upset over chief of BJP’s youth organisation Vishal Chauhan being ignored from Kangra. Gaddi leader Trilok Kapoor, former minister Ravinder Ravi and Kangra Cooperative Bank chairman Rajeev Bhardwaj are said to be in the race for the seat.

In Hamirpur, former MP Suresh Chandel has also staked claim for the ticket.

For complete coverage of Lok Sabha Elections 2019, click here