WHO WILL MAKE IT?

Dhumal wants a ministerial berth for his trusted lieutenant Virender Kanwar, a four-time legislator from Kutlehar in Una district, who had offered to vacate his seat for Dhumal after his defeat from Sujanpur.

Dhumal is eyeing a cabinet berth for his other loyalist Colonel Inder Singh, MLA from Sarkhaghat and chief parliamentary secretary seat for two-time MLA Vinod Kumar. Shimla MLA Suresh Bhardwaj is hoping that the RSS backing will help him secure a cabinet berth while former horticulture minister Narinder Bragta, another staunch Dhumal loyalist, hopes that the former CM will push his case.

Shanta Kumar too has conveyed that he is keen on cabinet berths for his loyalists former minister Ramesh Dhawala and Kishan Kapoor. It is learnt that Shanta is also rallying for Bipan Parmar, a three-time legislator, for the speaker’s post. Sarveen Chaudhary, former social justice minister, is another obvious choice for the BJP as she is the senior most women legislator in the party. Former rural development minister Anil Sharma, who switched over to the BJP just ahead of the polls, is another contender for a cabinet berth Union health minister Jagat Parkash Nadda has thrown his weight behind Rakesh Pathania, a young legislator from Nurpur and Vikram Singh from Dehra.

The party is also considering Vikram Singh, Jiya Lal, a legislator from Bhattiyat, and Narender Thakur from Hamirpur for the post of deputy speaker.

Ram Lal Markandey from Lahaul Spiti’s name is also doing the rounds for a cabinet berth in the tribal quota.

The names of Kasauli legislator Rajiv Sejal and Hansraj from Churah are being considered from the seats reserved for scheduled caste category.

The BJP could also give a berth to three-time MLA from Manali Govind Thakur.