HP: Blow to BJP as rebel defies CM to contest bypoll

SHIMLA: Even as Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur's persuasions paid off in making Ashish Sikta, a young party rebel to withdraw from the contest, Dayal Pyari, another potential rebel, chose to defy Thakur at Pacchad – one of two assembly seats witnessing bypoll on October 21.

There was high drama at Rajgarh - which is a sub divisional headquarters of Pacchad, on Thursday – as being last date of withdrawal of nominations.

She rejected the Chief Minister's appeal to withdraw from the contest and rather support the party's official candidate Reena Kashyap, thus causing a blow to the ruling party's efforts to rope her back into its folds. Pyari, a former Zila Parishad member and BJP leader from Trans-giri belt of Sirmaur district, had been under constant pressures for past 24 hours but towards the end of the day, it became clear that she has refused to budge.

She was a strong contender for the ticket but it's understood two local BJP leaders queered the pitch for her alleging an instance of 'indiscipline' during May 2019 Lok Sabha polls. However, Ashish Sikta, a former ABVP leader, made a turn-around following his meeting with Chief Minister and some other party leaders. He withdrew his nomination papers, informed party ‘s spokesman Ganesh Dutt during the day.

Two assembly segments – Pacchad and Dharamshala will be going to bypolls as result of the election of Suresh Kashyap and Krishan Kapoor to the Lok Sabha from Shimla (Reserve) Dharamshala

As per spokesman of Chief Electoral Officer, a total of 12 candidates are left in fray after the last date of withdrawal. “After the withdrawal of nomination by Independent candidate Ashish Kumar (Sikta) and rejection of candidature of INC covering candidate Dinesh Arya, now five candidates will be contesting the bye-elections in Pachhad (SC) AC and seven are left in the fray at Dharamshala,” he said.