Shimla: Hectic lobbying is on for poll ticketing as prospective candidates of both BJP and Congress parties pitch camps in Delhi, seeking the nod of party bigwigs ahead of the second phase of polling in Himachal Pradesh.Congress intends to hold the screening committee meeting at New Delhi on Sunday 18th November in order to shortlist candidates who then be considered by the all powerful the Parliamentary Board to draw up the final winning permutation and combination of winnable candidates.
Party insiders claim that a search for new faces who have winning potential is on so as to neutralise anti-incumbency, which is looming large over many old congressmen in the state.
A member of the core team even hinted that there were proposals to axe some ministers and sitting legislators with have turned in poor track record during the five years that the party has been in power.
Senior leaders, Sat Mahajan, the revenue minister and Sukh Ram, the former communication minister have already decided to hang up their boots for this electoral contest.
To everyone’s surprise, Harsh Mahajan, the not so old animal husbandry minister has also declined to contest the assembly elections this time, citing personal reasons.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh is reportedly annoyed with the functioning of food and civil supplies minister Singhi Ram, who may not be made the party nominee for the Rampur seat, even though he has won it six times in succession with thumping numbers.
Considering Harash Mahajan to be a candidate with good winning chances, the Congress high command has summoned the minister and is attempting to make him agree to contesting the Chamba seat.
In place of Sat Mahajan and Sukh Ram, the Congress High Command is expected to field their sons Ajay Mahajan and Anil Sharma from Nurpur and Mandi seats.
The congress screening committee consists of Moti Lal Vora, Mohsinha Kidwai, R K Dhawan, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and HPCC president Viplov Thakur.
The task to pick out 65 winning candidates from a list of over 500 applications is going to be a tough task and intra party feuds are expected to spill into the public arena.
BJP To Launch Campaign With Mandi Rally
BJP launches its campaign with a rally at Mandi on Sunday (November 17) which is to be addressed by party president Rajnath Singh.
However, following the rally, the action shifts to Delhi where the BJP Central Parliamentary Board is scheduled to meet on November 22 and consider the ticket applications which have been received by the organization.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
