BJP Nurpur block unit ousts Pathania

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, March 14

The block unit of the Nurpur BJP has ousted former MLA and prominent BJP leader from the area, Rakesh Pathania from the party.

Sources here said Pathania had been ousted from the party for “anti-party activities” during the Zila Parishad and panchayat polls. The block unit of the Nurpur BJP has sent the resolution of Pathania’s expulsion from the party to the district unit.

While talking to The Tribune, Pathania termed his ouster from the party as a result of his raising voice for the martyrs of Kangra.

“When I opposed the India-Pakistan match to support ex-servicemen of Kangra, I had stated that I might have to pay a price for that. Now that price has been extracted,” he said.

Regarding reasons of his expulsion, Pathania said the elections to the Zila Parishad and panchayats were not held on party symbol so there was no question of any anti-party activity.

“The candidates who were supported by me won all the three Zila Parishad seats in the Nurpur Assembly constituency. They were used by the party to win the election for the president of the Kangra Zila Parishad. At that time I brought these Zila Parishad members into the fold of the BJP. Now they are citing the same reason for my expulsion from the party,” he said.

“I shall discuss the matter with the party high command and take a decision accordingly,” he said.

When asked about Pathania’s expulsion from the party, state BJP president Satpal Satti initially expressed surprise over the move. However, later he said he had no information regarding Pathania’s expulsion from the party by the block unit of the BJP.

He said as per the party procedure, the resolution sent by the Nurpur block unit would have to go to the district unit and then state unit. It would then be taken up by the disciplinary committee of the party. Only the disciplinary committee of the party was authorised to decide regarding Pathania’s expulsion from the party, he said.

Pathania in the recent past has announced his opposition to the India-Pakistan match at Dharamsala that was to be hosted by the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA).

He had even threatened to carry out a march to stop the Pakistan team from landing at Dharamsala on the plea that it would hurt the sentiments of the martyrs of the state.

The Nurpur block unit is dominated by the supporters of Nikka Pathania, who unsuccessfully contested on party ticket from the Nurpur Assembly constituency in the last elections. Initially, Nikka was a loyalist of former CM and BJP MP from Kangra Shanta Kumar. He lost his deposit in the last Assembly elections, while Rakesh Pathania, who contested as an Independent, came second polling just behind Congress candidate Ajay Mahajan.

The sources here said now Nikka Pathania had switched loyalties to the group of former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. Rakesh Pathania, who was initially ousted from the party for contesting as an Independent, was brought back into the party by Shanta Kumar during the last Lok Sabha elections.

However, in case Pathania was ousted from the party, it is likely to trigger infighting in the BJP in Kangra — the biggest and politically most significant district of the state.