BJP gets into election mode in Kangra : The Tribune India

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The screening committee has forwarded the names of former minister Sudhir Sharma and Cong MLA from Kangra Pawan Kajal.

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, March 24

After the declaration of Kishan Kapoor as party candidate from Kangra, the BJP has started canvassing.

Kapoor held a meeting of party workers and met Shanta Kumar today before launching his campaign. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur will be in Kangra and Nurpur on March 26 and 27 to address party workers. Kapoor also went to the Indrunag temple to seek the blessings.

The Congress is still uncertain over its candidate. Sources here said the party might still take a few days to decide its candidate from Kangra. They said the delay might be due to the busy schedule of AICC president Rahul Gandhi, who is on a tour across the country for campaigning and would put the final seal on the list of candidates. The sources said former minister GS Bali had said no to party ticket. His name would only be considered if the party high command asked him to contest, keeping in view the better winning prospects. However, his candidature was also facing opposition from the Virbhadra faction.

The screening committee has forwarded the names of former minister Sudhir Sharma and Congress MLA from Kangra Pawan Kajal. Kajal is being projected by a section of leaders who feels that he may help them galvanise the OBC vote bank in Kangra. The OBCs comprise of 30 per cent of the total electorate from Kangra. However, Kajal had said he would not contest the elections.

That leaves Sudhir as the only leader who is showing interest. Since Kapoor has been declared the BJP candidate, various Congress leaders are evaluating the new election scenario. It is being expected that now when Shanta Kumar is out of fray, Sudhir may galvanise the Brahmin vote that comprises of 20 per cent of the total electorate in Kangra. However, he will have to rely on the Virbhadra faction.

Also the Congress candidate will have to face an uphill task due to the fact that there is the BJP government. The party has 14 MLAs.

These MLAs will be under pressure to ensure the lead of the party in their constituencies. In a state where the dominant vote share is government employees, the government has an edge over the rival party.