Rifts wide open, rebel factor big in Cong, BJP

Shimla: Rebels unhappy over being denied a chance to contest polls may just become the make-or-break factor for the Congress and the BJP in the November 9 assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh.
Many senior leaders of the two parties are not happy with the distribution of tickets. Already, leaders have announced to contest independently from 12 seats, which is nearly 20% of the 68-member assembly.Some of them have already filed their nominations, while others are expected to follow suit on Monday.
As the last date to withdraw nominations is November 2, the extent of infighting in the two parties would only be known after that. Still, senior leaders have been expressing displeasure over ticket distribution and have sent alarm bells ringing for the Congress and the BJP.
In Bhoranj assembly seat of Hamirpur district, BJP is on a sticky wicket. It denied a ticket to outgoing MLA Dr Anil Dhiman and fielded Kamlesh Kumari instead of him. Unhappy, Dhiman has announced to contest independently and is expected to file his nomination on Monday. In the byelection to Bhoranj in April, Dhiman won the seat by a margin of 8,290 votes. His father, late Ishwar Dass Dhiman, was a six-time MLA.
In Shahpur assembly seat of Kangra district, Congress has a rebel in Major Vijay Singh Mankotia. He filed his nomination as an independent candidate on Saturday. Congress had been trying to persuade Mankotia to contest on a party ticket, but he refused and said he would not do so under the leadership of CM Virbhadra Singh. In the 2012 assembly elections, while contesting on a Congress ticket, Mankotia secured 22,364 votes, but lost to BJP by 3,123 votes.
In Palampur assembly seat, supporters of former BJP MLA Praveen Sharma are unhappy over the denial of ticket to him. Sharma, a staunch loyalist of Kangra MP Shanta Kumar, was ignored as the party wanted to field Indu Goswami. On Friday, Sharma’s supporters gathered in Palampur and announced him as their independent candidate. They have decided to file nomination on October 23.
In Fatehpur assembly seat, BJP is in trouble with state executive member Baldev Thakur filing his nomination as an independent candidate on Saturday. BJP has given a ticket to Kripal Parmar, a loyalist of former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, and this has left Thakur, a loyalist of Shanta Kumar, unhappy.
BJP is facing a challenge in Indora (SC) assembly seat due to the presence of sitting MLA Manohar Dhiman, who had won the seat as an independent in 2012 by a margin of 7,369 votes and secured 21,424 votes. Before monsoon session of assembly, Dhiman joined the BJP. But, as he has been denied a ticket, he has filed his nomination as an independent. Dhiman is former BJP leader and his absence would affect the party’s vote bank.
In Kangra assembly seat, the Congress’s decision to field MLA Pawan Kajal has left many in the party unhappy. In the BJP too, there are rifts. The party’s OBC leader Utam Chaudhary has announced to contest as an independent after Sanjay Chaudhary was named the BJP’s candidate.
In Karsog seat, Congress has fielded MLA Mansa Ram. Unhappy, former MLA Mast Ram has filed his nomination as an independent.
In Shimla assembly seat, Congress is facing a rebellion from Harish Janartha, a staunch loyalist of chief minister Virbhadra Singh. Ignoring the claim of Janartha, Congress fielded Harbhajan Singh Bhajji. The BJP is facing a challenge in Kasumpti, where it has fielded Vijay Jyoti Sen, sister-in-law of chief minister Virbhadra Singh’s wife Pratibha Singh. BJP leader Prem Singh has rebelled against the decision.
In Rampur seat, Congress former minister Singhi Ram has announced to contest as an independent. Once a loyalist of Virbhadra, Ram has been denied the party ticket for MLA Nand Lal, who also belongs to Virbhadra camp.
In Sarkaghat seat, senior Congress leader Rangeela Ram Rao is unhappy over the party fielding Pawan Kumar. Insiders have not ruled out the possibility of Rao fighting the polls as an independent.
In Banjar seat, BJP supporters of former minister Khimi Ram are unhappy over the party fielding Surender Shourie. Ram may fight polls as an independent. In Bharmaur, BJP has fielded Jiya Lal Kapoor by ignoring the claim of former assembly speaker Tulsi Ram. Sources said Ram is unhappy and may too decide to go solo.
In Nurpur, BJP’s decision to field Rakesh Pathania, who had contested 2012 election as independent to secure 23,179 votes, has left the party’s 2012 election candidate, Ranbir Singh Nikka, unhappy. On Friday, supporters of Nikka met in Nurpur and marched in protest against the BJP.
In Dharamshala, BJP leader Onkar Singh Nehria has announced to fight as an independent candidate, after the party fielded former minister Kishan Kapoor. In Jhandutta seat, BJP has fielded former IAS officer J R Katwal by ignoring MLA Rikhi Ram Kaundal. An unhappy Kaundal may fight as an independent too.
Unhappy leaders
Congress | Major Vijay Singh Mankotia, Harish Janartha, Singhi Ram, Rangeela Ram Rao, Mast Ram
BJP | Khimi Ram, Praveen Sharma, Baldev Thakur, Manohar Dhiman