SHIMLA: Many seats of Himachal are already witnessing a key battle for party tickets, with aspirants launching their own public contact programmes in their respective constituencies. Moreover, young leaders and new entrants in the parties are ready to challenge established leaders in the coming assembly election by staking claim for tickets, leaving sitting legislators restless.
The BJP already has made it clear that ticket would be given on the criteria of ability to win, and even tickets of established leaders are not confirmed, while the Opposition Congress too is going to follow the same process by distributing tickets based on surveys.
In Bharmaur assembly constituency of Chamba district, Dr Janak Raj Pakhretia, currently posted as head of the Neurosugery Department and senior medical superintendent of Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Shimla, is very active with mass contact programme. It is speculated that he would stake claim for BJP ticket from here, despite sitting MLA Jiya Lal being active in the area. Though Congress old war horse Thakur Singh Bharmouri is being considered as first choice of party, but there are many other aspirants too.
In Lahaul-Spiti assembly constituency, BJP has sitting minister Ram Lal Markanda, but he is facing challenge from Jawahar Sharma, who is the Scheduled Tribe morcha state president. Both Markanda and Sharma have launched their own mass contact programmes in the constituency. This time, some aspirants from Spiti valley are also staking claim for the ticket. In Congress, former MLA Ravi Thakur is active in the constituency, but there are several other aspirants who will pose challenge for him for the ticket. In Kinnaur district, BJP is facing a ‘ticket battle’ between former MLA Tejwant Singh Negi and vice-chairman of forest corporation Surat Negi, while in Congress the battle is between sitting MLA Jagat Singh Negi and Youth Congress president Nigam Bhandari.
In Theog Assembly constituency of Shimla district, many contenders have emerged for the Congress ticket. Former state president Kuldeep Singh Rathore, senior party leader Kehar Singh Khachi, Atul Verma and Deepak Rathore are among the strong contenders and entry of Indu Verma, wife of former BJP MLA late Rakesh Verma, has made ticket battle interesting. On other side, BJP is facing the challenge of finding a suitable candidate.
In Banjar assembly seat, after former BJP MLA from Banjar, Khimi Ram Sharma, joined the Congress, the ticket battle has also become interesting.
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