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Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi
Hoshiarpur, January 20
Dissidence over selection of candidates has affected two major parties, the BJP and Congress, though both took long to decide candidates in the district to prevent rebellion.
The saffron party faces dissidence in at least two out of three constituencies. In Hoshiarpur, factionalism among BJP seems to be raising barriers for BJP candidate Tikshan Sud.
In Dasuya, sitting MLA Sukhjit Kaur Sahi has been given the ticket. The other ticket aspirant, Chairman of the Punjab Medium Industries Development Board Raghunath Singh Rana has expressed his rebellion by filing nomination as an Independent candidate from Dasuya against BJP’s official candidate.
Similar is the situation in Mukerian where former district BJP president Jangi Lal Mahajan and former minister Arunesh Shakir were in contest for the ticket. Mahajan was confident of getting the ticket this time and had even started campaigning in the area before the announcement.
However, the ticket was given to Shakir and Mahajan opened a front against it. Mahajan had declared to contest as Independent by holding a massive march in the city the very same day the ticket was announced.
The Congress is also facing dissidence on three seats. Congress spokesperson Nimisha Mehta is in fray against Congress official nominee from Garhshankar Luv Kumar Goldy. She has filed as Independent.
Congress dissident Balwinder Bittu is contesting independent against Dr Raj Kumar of the Congress in Chabbewal. Similarly, former Akali-turned-AAP-turned-Congress leader Jagmohan Singh Babbu Ghumman is contesting as Independent in Dasuya against Congress candidate Arun Dogra Mickey.
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