Ex-Himachal minister resigns from BJP over party's nomination of Congress rebel

Shimla: Ram Lal Markanda, former minister in Himachal Pradesh and a BJP leader representing the Lahaul and Spiti assembly constituency, has parted ways with the party following the nomination of Congress defector Ravi Thakur for the upcoming assembly bypolls.

Thakur, who had defeated Markanda in the previous assembly election, was among the six former Congress MLAs granted assembly tickets by the BJP.

Expressing his dissent, Markanda announced his resignation from the BJP and declared his intention to contest the bypoll from Lahaul and Spiti, possibly under the Congress banner. The decision came swiftly after the BJP unveiled its list of candidates, which included Thakur's name, sparking discontent within the party ranks.

Markanda's departure from the BJP was accompanied by the resignation of all office-bearers of the BJP's Lahaul and Spiti block unit, who pledged their support to him for the upcoming election.

In the 2022 assembly elections, Markanda faced defeat at the hands of Thakur, then a Congress member, by a margin of 1542 votes. Despite being considered a frontrunner for the BJP ticket in the upcoming bypoll, Markanda opted to sever ties with the party in protest against Thakur's inclusion in the candidate list.

The bypolls for the vacant assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh are scheduled for June 1, coinciding with the election for the state's four Lok Sabha constituencies.

Markanda confirmed his departure from the BJP and expressed his determination to contest the bypolls, emphasizing the possibility of his candidacy under the Congress banner. He cited the support of his constituents as a driving force behind his decision to contest the elections.

Meanwhile, discontent within the BJP ranks was further highlighted by former rural development and panchayati raj minister Virender Kanwar, who criticized the party's decision to nominate Devinder Kumar Bhutto, another Congress rebel, for the Kutlehar assembly seat. Kanwar expressed disappointment over the party's selection process, suggesting a reassessment based on public opinion in the constituency.

Ranjit Singh, a BJP candidate who lost in the 2022 assembly polls, has also announced his decision to contest the bypolls as an independent candidate, further reflecting the internal discord within the party.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu acknowledged the possibility of BJP leaders, including Markanda and Rakesh Kalia, exploring options to join the Congress party, underscoring the political flux in the region.

The BJP's nomination of former Congress members for the bypolls follows their disqualification from the Himachal Pradesh Assembly for defying party directives during crucial legislative proceedings.