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Himachal BJP working group meeting begins in Dharamshala
The two-day Himachal Pradesh BJP working group meeting began in Dharamshala on Friday to discuss the party’s strategy for the byelections in a Lok Sabha and two assembly constituencies and 2022 general elections to the state assembly
The two-day Himachal Pradesh BJP working group meeting began in Dharamshala on Friday to discuss the party’s strategy for the byelections in a Lok Sabha and two assembly constituencies and 2022 general elections to the state assembly.
The byelection to the Mandi Lok Sabha and Fatehpur and Jubbal Kotkhai assembly seats are expected to be announced soon.
The byelection in Mandi was necessitated after MP Ram Swaroop Sharma was found dead at his Delhi residence on March 17. The Fatehpur and Jubbal Kotkhai assembly seats fell vacant after Congress legislator and former minister Sujan Singh Pathania and BJP MLA Narinder Bragta died on February 12 and June 5, respectively.
The elections have to be held within six months of the seats falling vacant.
Senior leaders, including national general secretary BL Santosh, Himachal BJP in-charge Avinash Rai Khanna, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur, former chief ministers Shanta Kumar and Prem Kumar Dhumal, minister of state for finance and corporate affairs Anurag Thakur and state party president Suresh Kashyap are attending the meet.
The party has chosen Dharamshala as the venue of the meeting due to the political significance Kangra holds in Himachal Pradesh politics.
The largest district population-wise sends 15 members to the state assembly and plays a crucial role in deciding which party will form the government in the state.
Addressing a press conference here, state BJP’s chief spokesperson Randhir Sharma said objective of the meeting was to prepare a roadmap for party’s functioning in next one and a half years.
“Besides the discussion on byelections, the party would prepare an elaborate plan to accomplish the mission repeat in 2022 assembly elections based on the suggestions received during the party’s three-day meet held at Shimla earlier this month,” said Sharma.
He said the meeting also reviewed the work done by the party and the government in last three and half years, especially during Covid-19.
“The Himachal BJP as well as the state government were hailed by the central leadership for the exceptional services provided to people of the state during Covid under Seva Hi Sangathan programme,” he said.
Replying to a query on the probable candidates in the byelections, Sharma said the decision would be taken in the election committee meeting.
He expressed confidence that BJP will win the byelections and also the 2022 assembly polls.
“The Congress is no challenge for BJP in 2022 polls as the party is a divided house,” he said.
