Dhumal loyalists’ meet creates political ripples

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, June 1

About 15 BJP leaders from Kangra district, most of whom belong to the group of former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, held a meeting at Kangra on Saturday. The meeting has created political ripples in Kangra, the politically most significant district of the state having 15 Assembly constituencies.

Media in charge of BJP Rakesh Sharma yesterday issued a release on behalf of BJP MLAs from Kangra. He termed the meeting a conspiracy against the Jai Ram Thakur government. The statement also said that a complaint has been filed to party high command against the leaders who held the meeting. The statement of media in charge of the BJP has brought to fore simmering discontent in the party.

“Is meeting own party leaders or workers an anti-party activity. The people who have issued the statement have tried to defame and undermine a party MP. I am a loyal soldier of the party and do not belong to any group. I will take up the matter with party high command”, he said.

BJP MP from Kangra parliamentary constituency, Kishan Kapoor, former minister Ravinder Ravi and former MLA from Kangra Sanjay Chaudhary were among the prominent leaders who had met at Kangra on Saturday.

When contacted, the leaders had termed the meeting as casual but sources here said that it might be linked to recent developments in the state BJP in which the state president of party Rajeev Bindal had to resign. The race for the post of party president has begun and there were expectations that Kangra region, which has been getting step-motherly treatment both in the government and party, might be given preference.

Ravinder Ravi also played down the meeting and said it was a casual meeting. He also refused to comment on the statement issued against them by certain BJP leaders.

The leaders associated with the camp of former Chef Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal have been at the receiving end in the state under the present dispensation. Last year a social media post had gone viral in which allegations were leveled regarding corruption in purchases in the health department. The police registered a case against former minister Ravinder Ravi for allegedly circulating the message. Though the case was registered, no further action was taken against the minister.

Kishan Kapoor, BJP MP from Kangra, has been pushed to political sidelines. He has not been consulted even on the appointment of office bearers of the party even in his Assembly constituency.

Plaint filed

Media in charge of BJP Rakesh Sharma termed the meeting a conspiracy against the Jai Ram Thakur government. The statement also said that a complaint has been filed to party high command against the leaders who held the meeting.

‘A casual meet’

Former minister Ravinder Ravi also played down the meeting and said that it was a casual get-together. He also refused to comment on the statement issued against them by certain BJP leaders

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