BJP to take back rebels in Kangra

Ravinder Sood

PALAMPUR, April 21

The BJP has decided to take back all those leaders who were expelled from the party for anti-party activities after the last Assembly elections in 2017.

Most of them had contested the elections against the official candidates.

Senior BJP leader and state in-charge of the party Tirath Rawat is visiting Kangra tomorrow to take the final decision. He will meet party workers in different constituencies.

The BJP had denied ticket to sitting MLAs and Shanta loyalist Parveen Sharma from Palampur, who then contested as an Independent against the party candidate. Now, in the changed political scenario, the party has planned to take back these leaders.

The other leaders who are likely to be taken back are Lalit Thakur from Bharmour, Baldev Thakur from Fatehpur, DK Soni from Chamba and Hans Raj Dhiman from Jaswan Pragpur.

Rebel DK Soni was in the fray against BJP candidate Pawan Nayyar in Chamba, while Baldev Thakur contested against Kirpal Singh Parmar in Fatehpur.

In Palampur and Fatehpur, these leaders have strong roots and grassroot party workers are still with them. They could affect the prospects of the BJP candidate from Kangra-Chamba seat. Therefore, the party had planned their re-induction. Likewise, Lalit Thakur had pitched against BJP candidate Jia Lal in Bharmour. Shanta Kumar, senior BJP leader and MP, and Kangra candidate Kishan Kapoor have favoured their re-induction in the party.

Shanta Kumar said the party should take back all these leaders since every vote carried a weight. These leaders were part and parcel of the party. The party must give them a chance, he asserted.