Hoshiarpur: Four in fray for BJP ticket

Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi

Hoshiarpur, January 16

While the Congress has fielded its sitting MLA Sunder Sham Arora from Hoshiarpur, the BJP seems to be in fix to decide its candidate from the constituency.

It appears that there are four aspirants in fray for the BJP ticket from Hoshiarpur. Those in race for the ticket, include Saffron party’s local veteran former minister Tikshan Sood, Punjab BJP Mahila Morcha vice-president and former councillor Neeti Talwar, state BJP sports cell convenor Dr Raman Ghai and district BJP president and former councillor Nipun Sharma.

Tikshan Sood is considered most ardent contender for the BJP ticket as he has won thrice in a row from the Hoshiarpur Assembly seat, which has traditionally been a Congress bastion. After this, Tikshan’s had to taste defeat in in 2012 and 2017 Assembly elections.

Tikshan is considered close to Union Minister of State Som Prakash. It is also believed that if Tikshan sees some problem in getting ticket, then he can forward the name of his right hand man and former Hoshiarpur Mayor Shiv Sood.

Another contender in the race is Punjab BJP Mahila Morcha vice-president and former councillor Neeti Talwar. The Talwar family has been associated with the party since 1998. Talwars also have Vijay Sampla, president, National Commission for Scheduled Castes, as their political godfather and access to Union Minister Rajnath Singh.

On the other hand, Dr Raman Ghai, considered close to BJP’s former Rajya Sabha member and national vice-president Avinash Rai Khanna, is also in the fray for the ticket. Ghai has a good hold on the youth and is secretary, District Cricket Association. The fourth name in the ticket race is of former councillor and party district president Nipun Sharma.

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