Split wide open in BJP in Kangra district

Lalit Mohan
Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, November 18

Infighting may make the going tough for the BJP in Kangra district ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP has 11 MLAs and four Cabinet ministers from Kangra district in the government. Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Kishan Kapoor, who represents Dharamsala, and Minister for Town and Country Planning Sarveen Chaudhary have openly sparred a few times. Kapoor was peeved at the alleged interference of Chaudhary in his constituency.

Since Chaudhary holds the Department of Town and Country Planning, the Smart City project and Dharamsala Municipal Corporation come under her preview.

Kapoor has many times taken up the matter of interference in his constituency by Chaudhary before Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. He is annoyed over the posting of some officials in Dharamsala and the delayed implementation of various state government and Central schemes in his area. Sources said Kapoor had sought transfer of certain MC officials, alleging that they were hampering development works.

Rakesh Pathania, BJP MLA from Nurpur, has been raising voice against his own government over the issue of illegal mining in the border areas of his constituency. He had forcefully taken up the issue in the Assembly, causing embarrassment to the government. Pathania has, however, been maintaining that he has been taking up the issue of illegal mining as it is hitting farmers.

The sources said Pathania was peeved at the appointment of a chairman from his constituency, who could act as a political rival.

On Wednesday, Ravi Dhiman, BJP MLA from Jaisinghpur, threatened to sit on a dharna against illegal mining in his area. Dhiman has also been maintaining that illegal mining is rampant in his area despite him taking up the issue at various levels.

In Dehra, Independent MLA Hoshiar Singh, who is associate member of the BJP, is at loggerheads with Industries Minister Bikram Thakur. Both leaders have been sparring over development works and posting of officials in the Dehra area.

The sources said a section of the BJP wanted to induct Hoshiar Singh into the party in view of the forthcoming elections. However, the move has been blocked due to resistance from the Industries Minister. The BJP MLA from Jwalamukhi and former minister, Ramesh Dhawala, was upset over him not being given a Cabinet berth. The BJP had recently inducted him as the deputy chairman of the State Planning Board and given him the Cabinet rank. However, Dhawala is still keeping himself confined to his constituency.

Allegedly due to the infighting, the BJP lost the election of deputy chairman of the Kangra Zila Parishad. The sources said the party high command had also expressed its displeasure at the state of affairs in politically significant Kangra district.

All’s not well in party

Rakesh Pathania, BJP MLA from Nurpur, has been raising voice against his own government over the issue of illegal mining in the border areas of his constituency. He had forcefully taken up the issue in the Assembly, causing embarrassment to the government. Pathania has, however, been maintaining that he has been taking up the issue of illegal mining as it is hitting farmers. Sources said Pathania was peeved at the appointment of a chairman from his constituency, who could act as a political rival. On Wednesday, Ravi Dhiman, BJP MLA from Jaisinghpur, threatened to sit on a dharna against illegal mining in his area. Dhiman has also been maintaining that rampant illegal mining was taking place in his area .