Ex-MLA quits BJP, files papers as Independent

The BJP received a jolt today as Kehar Singh Rawat, a former MLA and state executive member, resigned from the party in protest against the denial of ticket from the Hathin segment in the district. He filed nomination papers as an Independent candidate from the seat. The BJP had announced Manoj Rawat as its candidate from the segment last night, replacing outgoing MLA Parveen Dagar.

Kehar Rawat accused the BJP of backstabbing him and said that he had resigned from all posts of the party with immediate effect and decided to contest as an Independent candidate. He had won the Hathin seat on the INLD ticket in 2014. However, he had resigned from the INLD and joined the BJP in 2019.

He said that the BJP had ignored his claim to the ticket in the 2019 elections and this was the second time that the party insulted him despite his dedication and support to it for the past over five years. He added that he felt cheated and left with no option but to fight the election as an Independent candidate.

Kehar Rawat later submitted his nomination as an Independent candidate. He said he may withdraw his papers if the Congress fielded Harsh Kumar from the seat. This is the first revolt by a BJP leader in the district though the party has nominated new faces from Palwal and Hodal also. Pravin Dagar was elected MLA on the BJP ticket in 2019 by defeating Mohamed Israil of the Congress by 2,887 votes. Kehar Rawat had lost to Harsh Kumar of the Congress in 2009.

BJP candidate Manoj Rawat had filed his nomination papers from the seat yesterday. While the Congress is yet to announce its candidate from the seat, the INLD has fielded Tayyab Hussain Bhimsika this time.