In a political twist in Himachal Pradesh, former minister and BJP leader Ram Lal Markanda has resigned from the party following its decision to nominate Congress rebel Ravi Thakur for the upcoming assembly bypoll in Lahaul and Spiti. The move comes amidst tensions within the BJP’s ranks and signals a shift in political alliances ahead of the crucial by-election.
Ram Lal Markanda, who had served as the agriculture and tribal development minister in the previous BJP government, expressed his discontent with the party’s decision to field Ravi Thakur, who had defeated him in the last assembly election. The announcement of Thakur’s candidacy led to a wave of resignations within the BJP’s Lahaul and Spiti block unit, with members pledging support to Markanda in the upcoming bypoll.
The by-election in Lahaul and Spiti was necessitated after Ravi Thakur, along with five other former Congress MLAs, was disqualified from the Himachal Pradesh Assembly for defying party orders. These MLAs, including Thakur, had joined the BJP following their disqualification.
The political maneuvering in Himachal Pradesh reflects the ongoing power struggles and realignments within the state’s political landscape. The decision by Ram Lal Markanda to contest the bypoll, possibly as a Congress candidate, underscores the shifting dynamics and alliances ahead of the elections.
Meanwhile, other BJP leaders, including Virender Kanwar and Ranjit Singh, have also expressed dissatisfaction with the party’s candidate selection process. Kanwar voiced concerns over the nomination of Devinder Kumar Bhutto, a former Congress MLA, as a BJP candidate from Kutlehar.
The upcoming bypolls in Himachal Pradesh, scheduled for June 1, are expected to be closely watched as they could impact the state’s political equilibrium. With multiple candidates vying for seats and party loyalties being tested, the Lahaul and Spiti bypoll promises to be a significant event in the state’s political calendar.
Sources By Agencies