BJP trying to woo back Himachal rebel
October 27th, 2009 - 12:21 pm ICT by IANS
Shimla, Oct 27 (IANS) The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Himachal Pradesh is trying to woo back its rebel, fearing that he might dent the party’s vote bank in the Jawali assembly by-election scheduled Nov 7.
BJP rebel Madan Sharma, who was denied party ticket from Jawali, filed his nomination papers for the bypoll as an independent candidate.
State BJP chief Khimi Ram said Tuesday that there was no harm in convincing Sharma to return to the party.
“The doors (of the party) are still open for him,” Khimi Ram said.
Sharma is the elder brother of Kangra MP Rajan Sushant, who was trying to get the BJP ticket from Jawali for his wife, Sudha Sushant.
Two assembly seats in Himachal — Rohru and Jawali — fell vacant after legislators Virbhadra Singh and Sushant contested and won the Lok Sabha elections in May.
Sharma has accused Sushant of favouring “weak candidate” Baldev Raj Chaudhary for Jawali after the party refused to give a ticket to his wife.
“The allotment of ticket to weak candidate Baldev Raj was under pressure from Sushant,” he told IANS.
Sharma said he is still a primary member of the BJP.
The Congress has fielded former minister Sujan Singh Pathania from Jawali.
Eight candidates are in the fray for the two assembly seats.
- Family infighting may cost BJP dear in Himachal's Jawali seat - Nov 05, 2009
- BJP selects candidates for Himachal assembly bypolls - Oct 15, 2009
- Polling begins in Himachal Pradesh - Nov 07, 2009
- Congress loses stronghold in Himachal (Lead) - Nov 10, 2009
- Eight in fray for Himachal by-polls - Oct 24, 2009
- Himachal all set for polls amid tight security - Nov 06, 2009
- Moderate to heavy polling in Himachal (Third Lead) - Nov 07, 2009
- Moderate to heavy polling in Himachal (Second Lead) - Nov 07, 2009
- Congress names candidates for Himachal by-poll (Lead) - Oct 16, 2009
- Congress candidate files papers for Himachal bypolls - Oct 19, 2009
- Campaigning ends for Himachal by-polls - Nov 05, 2009
- Congress deputes Punjab leader to end bickering in Himachal - Oct 28, 2009
- CPI-M not to contest Himachal by-polls - Oct 24, 2009
- Brisk voting in Himachal by-elections (Lead) - Nov 07, 2009
- Himachal Pradesh by-election war hots up - Oct 18, 2009
Tags: allotment, assembly seats, bjp, candidate state, congress, doors, elder brother, independent candidate, kangra, legislators, lok sabha elections, mp, nomination papers, party ticket, rajan, sushant, vote bank