Congress, BJP face dissidence in Kangra

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, October 20

Both the BJP and the Congress are facing dissidence in Kangra Assembly constituency. The Congress had decided to field Pawan Kajal, an independent MLA in the last Assembly election, from Kangra.

Today the former Congress MLA, Surinder Kaku and Dr Rajesh Sharma, who was seeking Congress ticket from Kangra, have announced they would oppose Pawan Kajal’s nomination from the constituency. They have given an ultimatum to the party to replace Pawan Kajal till October 22 or else they would collectively oppose him.

Pawan Kajal had contested the last Assembly elections from Kangra as a BJP rebel. However, in the last five years he developed close ties with the Chief Minister. In the last five years due to his closeness to the Chief Minister he brought several development projects to Kangra Assembly constituency, including two government colleges at Takipur and Matour.

It was earlier being expected that Pawan Kajal might join the BJP. However, when the BJP closed doors on former rebels, Pawan Kajal opted for the Congress and got the ticket due to his closeness to the Chief Minister.

Now the former Congress MLA from Kangra Surinder Kaku and Dr Rajesh Sharma, owner of Balaji hospital who had actively lobbying for Congress ticket from Kangra, have jointly opposed the candidature of Pawan Kajal. In the last Assembly elections Dr Rajesh Sharma had contested as independent from Kangra against the then Congress candidate Surinder Kaku.

The BJP was also facing a similar problem. Uttam Chaudhary, vice president of the OBC Welfare Association of Kangra, who was earlier tipped as BJP candidate but was later denied party ticket, today announced that he would contest as an independent. The BJP has fielded former MLA, Sanjay Chaudhary from Kangra.

Kangra Assembly constituency has a unique distinction of never re-electing an MLA for the past two decades.

Pawan Kajal, a former contractor of the IPH Department is quiet popular among in Mataour area of Kangra Assembly constituency. However, in case Congress rebels jump into fray it could be anybodies game.

Congress scenario

The Congress has fielded Pawan Kajal, an independent MLA in the last Assembly poll. Former Congress MLA, Surinder Kaku and Dr Rajesh Sharma, who was seeking Congress ticket from Kangra, have announced they would oppose Pawan Kajal’s nomination from the constituency.

BJP scenario

Uttam Chaudhary, vice president of the OBC Welfare Association of Kangra, who was earlier tipped as BJP candidate but was later denied party ticket, has announced that he would contest as an independent. The BJP has fielded former MLA, Sanjay Chaudhary from Kangra.