Kullu: Lone representative of HILOPA in the Himachal Pradesh assembly, Maheshwar Singh has indicated that his regional outfit was exploring the possibility of fighting the 2017 assembly election in coalition with BJP.
When quizzed by the media at a meeting held at Dev Sadan, Maheshwar, who is also president of HILOPA said, “Yes, some days ago I did meet senior BJP leaders and can say nothing about the outcome right now. Every political party tries its best to win elections, and as elections draw nearer more possibilities of coalitions emerging come up.”
Having met BJP leaders including union minister JP Nadda, speculation is rife that HILOPA would formally merge with BJP as Maheshwar Singh is a former BJP member, has been BJP state president and has represented the saffron party from Mandi parliamentary seat in the Lok Sabha.
The meeting at Dev Sadan was a congregation of the Kardar Sangh, who are caretakers of the hill deities – the Devtas. The issue of protecting and improving the management of the village deity system was discussed at the meeting.
Maheshwar Singh, a scion of the Kullu Royal House, is the chief caretaker of Lord Raghunath, the presiding deity of Kullu valley and its main festival, the Kullu Dussherra.
Speaking about the meeting Daut Ram Thakur, president district deity union Kullu said, “given the erosion in values and neglect of our culture taking place, it is the need of the hour to get organised and strengthen our deity culture as the younger generation is blindly following the western culture.”
A theater artist, a script writer and a TV anchor, news is something that grips Renuka. She lives in Kullu.
