With the political atmosphere heating up, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strategically announced its candidates for the forthcoming Lok Sabha election in Himachal Pradesh, simultaneously preparing for the Assembly byelections. While the Congress party lingers in the candidate selection process, six of its former legislators, who recently sided with the BJP, have received tickets for the Assembly byelections. This follows their disqualification from the Himachal Pradesh Assembly due to their absence during critical motions in February 2024, defying a party whip to support the government.
The six former Congress members—Rajinder Rana, Sudhir Sharma, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Ravi Thakur, Chaitanya Sharma, and Davinder Bhutto—will now represent the BJP in their previous constituencies, aiming to secure positions in the June 1 by-elections set alongside the polling for the state’s four Lok Sabha seats. Their shift of allegiance reflects a significant political change within the state, marking their alignment with BJP’s development-driven initiatives and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. These events unfolded publicly in New Delhi, as the newly allied BJP members stood alongside prominent figures like Union minister and MP Anurag Thakur, former Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur, and other high-ranking BJP officials.
Jai Ram Thakur marked the joining of the six ex-Congress MLAs to the BJP as a major political shift for Himachal Pradesh, especially given the stature these individuals held within the Congress. Additionally, the BJP has showcased its variety in candidate selection for the parliamentary polls by nominating high-profile figures such as actress Kangana Ranaut, alongside seasoned politicians Anurag Thakur and Suresh Kashyap. This development occurs against the backdrop of the Congress government grappling with instability following the Rajya Sabha election loss in February, as well as the subsequent decrease in the strength of their party representation within the state assembly. The BJP, capitalizing on the current state of affairs, seeks to further bolster its numbers and influence in the region.