Ex-CM Shanta Kumar not to contest

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 22

The chances of the BJP fielding a new face from the Kangra Lok Sabha constituency has gained strength with the former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar himself indicating that he was not to keen to contest and search for a formidable candidate is on.

BJP sources said that Shanta, who is the sitting Lok Sabha MP from Kangra, has been conveyed the high command’s decision of not fielding him, following which he announced that he was not keen to contest. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur met Shanta Kumar at his Delhi residence today to discuss the issue of ticket allotment in wake of Shanta being out of the race.

Party sources said names of two Cabinet ministers - Kishan Kapoor, a Gaddi MLA from Dharamsala and Vipin Parmar, Health minister and MLA from Sulah Assembly segment, are under serious consideration. A new name being added to the list of probables is that of Indu Goswami, state Mahila Morcha chief who had lost the last Assembly election from Shanta’s home town of Palampur. The name of Kripal Parmar, a former Rajya Sabha MP, also figures prominently in the list.

Senior BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, state BJP president Satpal Singh Satti, former CM PK Dhumal and Shanta have held a series of meetings in Delhi to forge consensus on selection of candidates for the four Lok Sabha seats.

The possibility of Shimla MP Virender Kashyap also being replaced with a new face is also rife in BJP circles. The names of Pachad MLA Suresh Kashyap and HN Kashyap being given the ticket are doing the rounds.

“The name of the candidate from Kangra will have to be finalised with the consent of Shanta Kumar or else it could lead to problems. The candidate too will have to seek his blessings”, admitted a senior party functionary.

Speculation about Shanta being replaced had begun last night only after LK Advani had failed to find a place in the BJP list of candidates.

A majority of the senior leaders were skeptical over Shanta’s candidature, considering that in 2014 he had announced that he would not be contesting again. As such, he did not remain very active as an MP. It is only lately that he gave indication of not being averse to taking the electoral plunge once again.

Shanta Kumar said he had conveyed his choice for the candidate from Kangra to the the party high command but the final decision would be taken after evolving consensus and finally the stamp of approval of the high command. Who the BJP fields will ultimately depend on the stamp of approval of the BJP Parliamentary Board which is likely to meet tomorrow.