Dissidence dogs BJP, Cong in Pathankot

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Pathankot, January 18

With the BJP and the Congress facing dissidence, the elections to the Pathankot seat might turn out to be a tough for the both even as the AAP might benefit from the situation.

Two days after the BJP nominated sitting MLA Ashwani Sharma for the seat, his bete noire and three-time MLA Master Mohan Lal chose to throw his hat in the electoral ring by announcing to contest as an Independent.

In the 2012 elections, the BJP had decided not to re-nominate Mohan Lal and given the ticket to Sharma who defeated Congress’ Raman Bhalla by a margin of 20,000 votes.

Sharma had been a protégé of Mohan Lal for several years before both of them parted ways in 2012 after the former was given the ticket. This had infuriated Mohan Lal following which he had decided to contest as an Independent. However, he chose not to fight after efforts were made by the state and central leadership to assuage his feelings.

This time Sharma might find the going tough as Mohan Lal is known to have a substantial vote bank. Insiders say that in a three-cornered contest, like the one evolving in Pathankot, if Mohan Lal even manages to bag just 5,000 votes, things might become difficult for Sharma.

The Congress has fielded Amit Vij, who is son of Pathankot District Congress Committee president Anil Vij. Amit has an arduous task at hand as Ashok Sharma, who was an MLA from 2002-2007, is contesting as an Independent.