FRONTRUNNERS FOR HIMACHAL CM POST

JAIRAM THAKUR

Started out as a student leader in the ABVP and remained its secretary till 1986

In 1993, became the state president of BJP’S youth wing, Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of the saffron party

First elected to the state legislative assembly in 1998 from Chachiot assembly segment of Mandi district

Served as state chief of BJP from 2006 to 2009 and became a part of the state cabinet as rural development and panchayati raj minister in 2009 Credited with striking a balance between two warring factions headed by former CMS Prem Kumar Dhumal and Shanta Kumar

JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA

Began political career as a student leader in 1975 after joining the Sampurna Kranti movement started by Jayaprakash Narayan against Indira Gandhi Entered state politics in 1993 by winning assembly election from his home-town Bilaspur; appointed leader of opposition

Re-elected in 1998 and made a cabinet minister in Prem Kumar Dhumal-led BJP government. Distanced himself from state politics after a fallout with Dhumal. Appointed BJP’S national general secretary, and elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2012 Considered close to BJP president Amit Shah, he was inducted as health minister in Narender Modi-led government in 20014