Successive defeats rattle BJP in Kangra

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, October 9

Consecutive defeats in various key institutions of Kangra district have rattled the BJP high command. Despite the fact that the BJP won 11 out of 15 Assembly segments in Kangra in the last Assembly elections, it has failed to control the vital institutions of the politically significant district.

Initially, the BJP tried to take over the Kangra Central Cooperative (KCC) Bank, one the biggest cooperative banks of the state. At least three ministers from the district were deputed to ensure that the BJP-backed candidate was placed as Chairman of the bank. However, the move fizzled out and the state government later dissolved the elected board of the bank. The ousted members of the board went to Himachal High Court.

Though the elections for the members of the board of the KCCB were due in September, these could not be held due to pending litigation. The state government has not been able to appoint even a regular Managing Director of the bank as yet.

The second setback came the BJP way in the elections for the post of vice chairman of the zila parishad of Kangra. The state government deputed four ministers for the election. The ministers kept camping in Kangra district for more than a week to ensure party win. However, the Congress candidate Vishal Chambial won with a thumping majority. The state government had to cut a sorry figure and the ministers left blaming a party MLA from the district for playing spoilsport.

On Monday, the Congress managed to retain the post of Mayor of Dharamsala Municipal Corporation and also weaned away Onkar Nehria, a BJP leader from Dharamsala, into its fold getting him elected as Deputy Mayor. Though the BJP has been maintaining that Onkar was no more with the party, he had contested corporation poll on BJP ticket.

Sources here said that consecutive defeats of the party in Kangra have rattled the BJP high command. The national leaders of the party have expressed their disappointment over the defeats in the executive meeting held at Shimla.

Sources here said that in the meeting at Palampur some party workers vented their ire against an RSS leader and accused him of consistently interfering in the affairs of the party.

Some of the leaders, while speaking on the condition of anonymity, alleged that Kangra had not got its due from the state government. Most of the power in the present government is centred in Mandi district. The ministers from Kangra have comparatively less important portfolios and are being forced to play second fiddle in the government. This was having an adverse impact at the ground level and the Congress was gaining in Kangra barely within 10 months of the formation of new government in the state.

The BJP is concerned that this might impact party prospects in the forthcoming parliamentary elections as well.

Recent reverses

• The BJP suffered reverse in the elections for the post of vice-chairman of the zila parishad of Kangra. The state government deputed four ministers for the election. However, Congress candidate Vishal Chambial (in pic) emerged winner.
• The BJP tried to take control of the Kangra Central Cooperative (KCC) Bank, one the biggest cooperative banks of the state. However, the move fizzled out.
• On Monday, the Congress managed to retain the post of Mayor of Dharamsala Municipal Corporation and also weaned away Onkar Nehria, a BJP leader from Dharamsala, into its fold.