Kishan Kapoor replaces former Himachal CM Shanta Kumar on Kangra seat

DHARAMSHALA: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has replaced former

Himachal Pradesh

CM

Shanta Kumar

with cabinet minister

Kishan Kapoor

as its candidate for upcoming parliamentary polls on Kangra seat.


This has triggered a campaign in Chamba against Shanta Kumar who had promised a cement plant for this area but failed to bring it. The people from Chamba were demanding their own leader to contest this time.

The announcement of Kishan Kapoor has pacified the anti-incumbency of BJP there. The reason behind this is that Kapoor had got married to Rekha Kapoor in Chamba district.

Chamba district is divided into two parliamentary constituencies, Kangra and Chamba. It elects two MPs every year but despite that, it was announced as a backward district of Himachal Pradesh by BJP govt at Centre.

There are more than three lakh Gaddi voters in Kangra parliamentary constituency.

A few days back, this Gaddi community had launched a campaign against Shanta Kumar after a controversy was triggered on his statement in reaction to the demand by this community to have their own leader as a candidate in the

Lok Sabha elections

.

Kapoor represents the Gaddi community. This factor is also going to give an edge to BJP.

Even, Shanta Kumar who could have played a negative role in case of another candidate by BJP is now backing Kapoor. It was said that Shanta Kumar is the political mentor of the Kishan Kapoor.

“I am happy that Kapoor has been announced as the party candidate. The nation is celebrating the democracy and I am celebrating my retirement from electoral politics” said Shanta Kumar on Tuesday at Kangra.