Litmus test for CM Thakur

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 21

With the EC announcing bypolls to Dharamsala and Pachaad Assembly seats in Himachal on October 21, arch-rivals ruling BJP and Opposition Congress have started zeroing in on candidates. 

While problem of plenty plagues the BJP as it has too many ticket seekers, the faction-ridden Congress is yet to get its act together. 

The BJP had won both the seats, which fell vacant after sitting MLAs Kishan Kapoor (Dharamsala) and Suresh Kashyap (Pachaad) got elected to the Lok Sabha from Kangra and Shimla (reserved) parliamentary segments by 4.77 lakh and 3.27 lakh votes. 

Retaining both the seats will be a litmus test for CM Jai Ram Thakur as it will be a reflection on his two-year governance in the state. 

Among those vying for the BJP ticket from Dharamsala are Omesh Dutt, former ABVP national general secretary; ex-CM Shanta Kumar loyalist Rajeev Bhardwaj; Sanjay Sharma, Rakesh Sharma and Sachin Sharma. For Pachaad, the contenders include Ashish Singta, Dyal Pyari, Surinder Chauhan and Reena Devi. 

“The party high command will take the final call, but the ticket in all probability will be given to a local,” said state BJP president Satpal Satti.