Kargil War hero files papers from Mandi as BJP candidate

ibune News Service

Mandi, October 7

BJP candidate Brig Khushal Thakur (retd) filed his nomination papers for the Mandi Lok Sabha byelection in the presence of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur here today. The seat had fallen vacant following the death of BJP MP Ramswaroop Sharma this year. A large number of BJP workers turned up during nomination filing and they were dancing to the tunes of dhol and drums.

Brig Thakur, a Kargil War hero, was born on September 9, 1954. He graduated from HP University in 1975 and did postgraduate diploma in computer education from AM informatics Institute, Delhi, and another postgraduate diploma in human rights from the Indian Institute of Human Rights, Delhi.

He had also served as Patwari in the Revenue Department from 1972 to 1975. He was selected in the Indian Army in 1975 and retired in 2010. After retirement from the Army, he served as the Managing Director of company SAJV that constructed the Rohtang Tunnel. Later, he led the movement of the Fourlane Sangharsh Samiti in Mandi and Kullu districts during the Congress government to fight for the rights of people affected by the road widening project.

In 2019, the BJP appointed him as the Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the Himachal Pradesh Ex-Servicemen Corporation. Brig Thakur was the Commander of 18 Grenadiers during the Kargil War, which played a crucial role in capturing Tiger Hill and Tololing. For his bravery, he was awarded the Yudh Seva medal and his unit was awarded 52 gallantry awards.

Besides, Munshi Ram Thakur also filed his nomination papers as the candidate of the Himachal Jankranti Party.