BJP may field new faces from Kangra, Mandi

SHIMLA : Ahead of the 2019 general elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Himachal Pradesh has begun weighing its options of candidates for the four Lok Sabha (LS) seats in Shimla, Mandi, Kangra and Hamirpur constituencies, that it won in the 2014 general polls.

The party is likely to retain old faces in Shimla and Hamirpur but is searching for new ones in Kangra and Mandi.

Former chief minister and LS member Shanta Kumar, has so far remained mute on his future political plans. Kumar, who is credited with formation of the first non-congress government in 1977, wields a considerable influence in Kangra. After announcing retirement in 2013, he re-entered the poll fray in 2014. A section of the BJP is keen on fielding Union health minister and BJP parliamentary board secretary, Jagat Prakash Nadda from Kangra, as he is close to the national party chief Amit Shah, and could play a significant role in binding the divided cadres of BJP in Kangra.

Rajputs and Ghirths are the two dominant castes in the district, followed by Brahmins, Gaddis and Gurkhas. “There is no match for Shanta Kumar, but his age is not on his side,” says a senior BJP leader. BJP is also considering former Rajya Sabha member Kirpal Parmar, health minister Vipin Singh Parmar and food minister Kishan Kapoor among others.

In Shimla, the party might retain LS member Virender Kashyap but the names of Shashi Bala, who contested elections from Rohru, and Pachhad legislator Suresh Kashyap are also doing the rounds.

“The party high command will take the final call on tickets by seeking feedback from various quarters,” says state party chief, Satpal Singh Satti.

Three-time LS member Anurag Thakur is likely the party’s choice from Hamirpur but antiincumbency issues could pose his nomination a threat. Some say that former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who lost from Sujanpur last year, can ensure a victory in Hamirpur.

The party is in a dilemma over renominating LS member Ramswaroop Sharma from Mandi constituency, which is the home turf of chief minister Jai Ram Thakur.

Some leaders believe that Sharma’s popularity took a hit due to the hollow promises he made to the people.

BJP WAS SUCCESSFUL IN ALL FOUR LOK SABHA SEATS OF SHIMLA, MANDI, KANGRA AND HAMIRPUR IN THE 2014 GENERAL POLLS