Dhumal missing from rally banner, loyalists upset

Our Correspondent

Nurpur, January 21

Resentment prevailed among loyalists of former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal after the organisers of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur’s public meeting at Rehan in the district on Sunday ignored Dhumal in the poster.

Interestingly, photographs of state BJP president Sat Pal Satti, Kangra MP Shanta Kumar and Union Health Minister JP Nadda were displayed along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and national BJP president Amit Shah, but the photograph of Dhumal was missing.

On his Facebook post, one of the supporters had asked the organisers what they had proved by removing Dhumal’s photograph from the party’s poster.

Arjun Thakur, president, BJP Nurpur organisational district, could not be contacted for his comments despite repeated attempts.

Nurpur BJP senior vice-president Dr Satish Sharma said it could be negligence on part of the organisers and it didn’t seem to be an intentional motive.

Pankaj Happy, state secretary, BJYM, said it was not good to ignore such a senior party leader.

Sulkashan Sharma, former vice-president, BJYM, Kangra district, said the BJP had contested the Assembly elections under the leadership of Dhumal and the latter had direct interaction with party’s rank and file, but some elements in the party were trying to neglect him. “The BJP had contested several elections under the leadership of Dhumal and came to power thrice due to pro-public policies undertaken by his government in the state,” he said.