Two Independent MLAs want to be associate members: CM

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, January 12

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today said two independent MLAs — Hoshiar Singh from Dehra and Prakash Rana from Jogindernagar — have requested the BJP to make them associate members of the party.

The CM’s statement has triggered politics within the BJP. Both the said independent MLAs had defeated BJP stalwarts. Hoshiar Singh had defeated senior BJP leader Ravinder Ravi and Prakash Rana had defeated former minister Gulab Singh.

The BJP workers from Dehra have been vocal about their opposition to Hoshiar Singh being made associate member of party. They had also passed a resolution in this regard and sent it to the party high command.

Ravinder Ravi said that he did not want to comment on CM’s statement in the House. However, the party should take care of the sentiments of party workers of Dehra who are opposed to independent MLA being made associate member of the party in Himachal house.

Interestingly, Ravinder Ravi was a close aide of the former CM Prem Kumar Dhumal and bête noire of the Shanta faction in Kangra district. Ravi had yesterday also visited the Himachal Assembly complex with party workers from Dehra and met the CM. The move was seen an effort to stall the move to make Hoshiar Singh an associate member in the Vidhan Sabha.