Shanta not to contest Lok Sabha elections

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, May 19

Former Chief Minister and BJP MP from Kangra Shanta Kumar on Saturday said he would not contest the next Lok Sabha elections.

The leader, who was here to participate in a function organised by the Lions Club, said he would not contest the elections, but would definitely work for the party as a worker.

On being asked about the attempts of the BJP to form the government in Karnataka despite not getting majority, Shanta said in 1982 the BJP had won 29 Assembly segments in Himachal, while the Congress had won 31. There were six Independents, who were ready to support the BJP. “We could have formed the government with the support of Independents, but we didn’t,” he added.

“Atal Bihari Vajpayee had then announced that the BJP would sit in opposition rather than resorting to horse-trading. The BJP followed the principals and now the party has 26 more MLAs than the Congress in the Himachal Assembly,” he said.

The BJP leader said it was the collective responsibility of all Indians to keep up the high traditions of democracy in the country. He refused to speak further on the Karnataka issue.