Nadda in Palampur, pacifies Shanta

Ravinder Sood

PALAMPUR, October 18

In a damage control exercise, Union Health Minister Jagat Parkash Nadda today air dashed to Palampur to pacify senior BJP leader and MP Shanta Kumar, who was annoyed with the party high command and had publicly expressed his unhappiness over distribution of party tickets for the ensuing Assembly elections in Kangra district.

After landing at Gaggal airport this morning Nadda rushed to the residence of Shanta Kumar at 9.30 am and held a two-hour discussion over distribution of party tickets, particularly for Palampur, and Fathepur constituencies where Shanta Kumar supporters had been denied tickets.

Reliable sources said Shanta Kumar lodged strong protest over denial of party ticket, particularly to former MLA Parveen Kumar Sharma from Palampur.

He also raised the issue of fielding an outsider Indu Goswami, president, State BJP Mahila Morcha from Palampur.

It is also learnt that Shanta Kumar categorically told Nadda that if party high command failed to replace the candidates BJP could face defeat in these constituencies. He told Nadda that most of the BJP leaders, who had been denied party ticket, were in the field for the past five years. Hence, it was great injustice with them as they had been sidelined by the party. Later Nadda told media persons that he would convey the sentiments of party workers to party high command at New Delhi. He assured that high command would take appropriate decision. However, he also asked the party workers to respect the decision taken by the high command and give a united fight to congress so that BJP government was formed in the state after assembly elections.

It may be recalled that BJP workers had yesterday lodged strong protest over denial of party ticket to Parveen Sharma and fielding Indu Goswami from Palampur. They had also raised slogans “Indu Goswami go back”.

Shanta Kumar, who was perturbed with the day’s incidents, spoke to party high command in the evening and demanded change of ticket from Palampur and Dharamsala. Later, Amit Shah, BJP president, deputed J P Nadda, Union Health Minister, to have a dialogue with Shanta Kumar to defuse tension.

However, Shanta Kumar refused to comment over the discussions he had with Nadda regarding change of party ticket. He only said, “Wait and watch”.

Lodges protest

• Sources said Shanta Kumar lodged a protest over the denial of party ticket, particularly to former MLA Parveen Kumar Sharma from Palampur 
• He also raised the issue of fielding an outsider Indu Goswami, president, state BJP Mahila Morcha, from Palampur
• It is learnt that Shanta categorically told Nadda that if the party high command failed to replace the candidates, the BJP could face defeat