Shanta not on list as BJP names all HP candidates

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 23

The BJP today dropped two of its four sitting MPs in Himachal Pradesh, including veteran Shanta Kumar, 84, for the Lok Sabha elections. As expected, Hamirpur strongman Anurag Thakur has been renominated as also Mandi MP Ramswaroop Sharma.

State minister and Dharamsala MLA Kishan Kapoor replaces Shanta Kumar in Kangra, his stronghold for decades. Sitting MLA Suresh Kashyap will contest from Shimla in place of Virender Kashyap.

Sources say Kishan Kapoor has the blessings of Shanta Kumar, who “chose to opt out”. Speculation was rife the veteran leader was being replaced, which gained strength after veteran LK Advani was denied a ticket.

The decisions were taken after internal surveys and several rounds of discussions. Senior leader JP Nadda also released the list of candidates for Goa, MP, Jharkhand, Gujarat and Karnataka.  

It was the first time in 2014 that the BJP won all four seats in HP and is under pressure to repeat the performance in the May 19 polls. 

Uma Bharti opts out 

Senior leader Uma Bharti has been made the BJP vice-president after she expressed her desire to keep out of electoral politics and work for the party organisation. The 59-year-old firebrand sadhvi has been at the forefront of the BJP’s Ram Mandir movement. TNS