The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Himachal Pradesh): Former Himachal Pradesh minister Ram Lal Markanda, representing Lahaul and Spiti assembly constituency for BJP, resigned from the party in protest against the nomination of Congress rebel Ravi Thakur, who defeated him in the previous assembly election. Markanda announced his intention to contest the upcoming bypolls, potentially as a Congress candidate.
Following the BJP’s announcement of assembly tickets to six former Congress MLAs disqualified from the House, Markanda and all office-bearers of BJP’s Lahaul and Spiti block unit resigned, expressing support for Markanda’s candidacy in the bypoll.
Markanda, who served as the agriculture and tribal development minister in the previous BJP government, lost the 2022 assembly elections to Thakur. He expressed disappointment over Thakur’s inclusion in the BJP’s list for the bypoll.
The Himachal Pradesh Assembly bypolls are scheduled for June 1, coinciding with the state’s Lok Sabha elections.
Markanda confirmed his departure from BJP and declared his candidacy for the assembly polls. He indicated the possibility of contesting from the Congress party, citing the support of his constituents for the development of Lahaul and Spiti.
Meanwhile, other BJP leaders, including Virender Kanwar and Ranjit Singh, expressed discontent over the party’s candidate selection. Kanwar criticized the decision to nominate Congress rebel Devinder Kumar Bhutto, while Singh announced his candidacy as an Independent candidate.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that some BJP leaders, including Markanda and Rakesh Kalia, are in contact with the Congress. Both Markanda and Kalia lost in the 2022 assembly elections.
The BJP named its candidates for the assembly bypolls, including the six MLAs who switched allegiance from Congress after being disqualified for defying a party whip during a crucial vote.
Thakur, a two-time legislator, is among the nominated candidates by BJP, alongside others from various constituencies. The disqualification of the six Congress MLAs has impacted the party’s strength in the assembly.