Rebels gear up to give nightmares

The battle lines have been drawn for sevral multi-cornered contests with 459 candidates remaining in the field for 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly going to polls on November 4.

Incidentally, more than the the registered parties, it is the rebel factor — 70 are still in fray — that may affect the poll calculations

The biggest trouble, perhaps, will be for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in four prime districts of Kangra, Mandi, Solan and Hamirpur, and an equally worrisome scenario is seen in the Congress, which has prominent rebels in Shimla, Kullu, Sirmaur, Chamba, Una and Mandi constituencies.

The rebels, who refused to withdraw their nominations on Saturday, on the last date of withdrawals, are besides those who have already quit the BJP or Congress, and joined the HLP, TMC, BSP or Himachal Sabhiman Party.

The Congress suffered embarrassment due to a revolt in the royal family of Junga (Shimla) - in-laws of PCC chief Virbhadra Singh.

Vijay Jyoti Sen, wife of Veer Vikram Sen, who is brother of Virbhadra Singh's wife Pratibha Singh, is contesting as an Independent candidate from Kasumpti.

Even Pratibha had applied for a ticket, but the All India Congress Committee decided to field Anirudh Sen from the Youth Congress quota. This, apparently upset the plans of the Junga royal family, who were weighing options in favour of Pratibha Singh.

District Congress Committee (Shimla-Rural) chief Kehar Singh Khachi on Sunday expelled Veer Vikram Sen, Block Congress Committee chief (Kasumpti) from the party, as his wife Vijay Joyoti Sen defied the party discipline. "Since she (Vijay Jyoti Sen) is not a member of the party, no action could be taken against her," Khachi said.

The BJP has decided to be cautious, and give an opportunity to the rebels, including veteran party leader and MLA Roop Singh Thakur. "Top party leaders, including state in-charge Kalraj Mishra, National General Secretary J P Nadda and Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal will take a decision on the issue. I believe the rebels will be given some time to retire from the contest in the party's larger interest," BJP spokesperson Ganesh Dutt told The Indian Express.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Rail traffic hit due to protests over Sajjan's acquittal

Family of 1971 POW awaits his return from Pak, fears for his life

Anti-Pakistan protests erupt in Sarabjit's native village

Promised jobs in Iraq, 20 youth return empty-handed