Friday, March 29, 2024
Follow us on
BREAKING NEWS
लाल कृष्ण आडवाणी को भारत रत्न 31 मार्च को दिया जायेगा,आडवाणी को उनके पृथ्वीराज रोड निवास पर 1130 बजे भारत रत्न से नवाजा जाएगा, पीएम मोदी सहित कई वरिष्ठ मंत्री और बीजेपी के आला नेता भी रहेंगे उस अवसर पर मौजूदपटना से अहमदाबाद जा रही इंडिगो फ्लाइट मेडिकल इमरजेंसी के कारण इंदौर में उतरीमुख्तार का शव पोस्टमॉर्टम हाउस से निकला, गाजीपुर लेकर जा रही पुलिसजिला नूंह की टीम को मिली बड़ी सफलता, 9336 अवैध शराब की बोतलों को ले जाते हुए ट्रक को किया काबूटीबी को हराने के लिए सरकार-समाज का साझा प्रयास जरूरी : डॉ. सुनील कुमारगुरुग्राम स्थित श्रवण एवं वाणी निशक्त जन कल्याण केन्द्र में बने डिजिटल साइन लैंगुएज लैब में बधिर मतदाताओं के लिए संकेत भाषा में तैयार हुआ वीडियोचुनाव का पर्व-देश का गर्व में प्रत्येक मतदाता दे अपना योगदान – अनुराग अग्रवालसीएम योगी आज शामली, मुजफ्फरनगर और सहारनपुर में करेंगे जनसभा
Himachal

Dharamshala, Pachhad bypolls litmus test for BJP, Congress

September 22, 2019 05:32 AM

COURTESY HT SEPT 22

Dharamshala, Pachhad bypolls litmus test for BJP, Congress
Tough Turf Dharamshala seat has remained a stronghold of saffron party while Pachhad was a Congress citadel before the BJP breached the fortress in 2012 assembly elections
Naresh Kumar

naresh.kumar4@htlive.com

Dharamshala : The bypolls to Dharamshala and Pachhad assembly constituencies, date of which was announced on Saturday, would be a litmus test for both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition Congress.


For the BJP, it would be a challenge to continue its winning streak, while Congress will be looking for a revival after drubbing in the Lok Sabha elections held earlier this year.

Dharamshala and Pachhad seats fell vacant after Kishan Kapoor and Suresh Kashyap were elected to the Lower House of Parliament in May.

The byelections for these two seats will be held on October 21, along with Haryana and Maharashtra assembly polls.Dharamshala seat has remained a stronghold of the saffron party while Pachhad was a Congress citadel before the BJP breached the fortress in 2012 assembly elections.


Ticket Tussle

The Congress seems to be almost certain about its choice, but there is a tough race for ticket in the BJP.

From Dharamshala, Congress is likely to field All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Sudhir Sharma, though the name of sitting Dharamshala mayor Devinder Jaggi is also doing rounds.


From Pachhad, it is former assembly speaker Gangu Ram Musafir.

However, the situation is exactly opposite in the BJP. From Dharamshala, at least half a dozen leaders are lobbying hard for the ticket.

Prominent faces in the race are Umesh Dutt, a former ABVP national general secretary and Sanjay Sharma, who was also a student leader in his college days and is currently a director in the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association.Others are Rakesh Sharma, current state BJP media co-incharge and Rajeev Bhardwaj, chairman of Kangra Cooperative Bank.

Sachin Sharma, an RSS functionary and Vishal Nehria, a local Yuva Morcha leader — who belongs to dominant Gaddi community — are also vying for the ticket. During the 2017 assembly polls, the BJP had allotted ticket to Dutt from Dharamshala assembly segment, but backstepped after Kishan Kapoor threatened to contest as an Independent. While Sanjay Sharma is said to be “close” to the BJP working president and former Union minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, Rakesh Sharma and Rajeev Bhardwaj have the “backing” of veteran leader Shanta Kumar.

From Pachhad, Ashish Sikta, a former ABVP warhorse, and Dyal Pyari, a sitting zila parishad member, are among the front runners.

Poll planks


While the BJP is looking to cash in on achievements of central and state governments, the Congress would focus on local issues, particularly the alleged dilution of Section 118 of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, and corruption in the government. The saffron party is also banking on the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A of the Constitution to garner votes.

Widening cracks

What makes this election more tough is the infighting within both the ruling and opposition parties, particularly in Kangra district

Have something to say? Post your comment
 
More Himachal News
लोकसभा चुनाव: एक्ट्रेस और BJP कैंडिडेट कंगना रनौत ने मंडी में किया रोड शो हिमाचल: 6 कांग्रेस समेत 9 विधायकों ने ज्वाइन की बीजेपी हिमाचल के 11 बागी विधायक उत्तराखंड के ऋषिकेश पहुंचे हिमाचल के कांग्रेस के 6 बागी विधयकों को आज उत्तराखंड ले जाया गया* हिमाचल प्रदेश: सियासी हलचल के बीच आज दिल्ली रवाना होंगे विक्रमादित्य सिंह सुखविंदर सिंह सुक्खू ही बने रहेंगे हिमाचल के CM', पर्यवेक्षक डीके शिवकुमार का ऐलान हिमाचल कांग्रेस के विद्रोही विधायकों को झटका, स्पीकर ने की 6 बागी विधायकों की सदस्यता रद्द हिमाचल में फिर हलचल तेज, CM सुक्खू ने घर पर मीटिंग के लिए सभी मंत्री-विधायकों को बुलाया हिमाचल स्पीकर ने बागी विधायकों की अयोग्यता पर सुरक्षित रखा फैसला हिमाचल प्रदेश: 15 बीजेपी विधायकों के निलंबन के बाद बाकी 10 ने भी किया वॉकआउट