Prior to the assembly elections of Himachal Pradesh, on Monday, a total of twenty-six (26) Congress leaders left the party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The elections for the 68 constituencies of Himachal Pradesh are scheduled to take place on November 12, following the counting of votes on December 8, 2022.
The Chief Minister of the state, Jai Ram Thakur welcomed all the new members in BJP, noting they all will work together to register a “historic win” in the elections. “Let us work together for the historic victory of the BJP”, stated state’s CM.
On the other hand, 26 Congress leaders leaving was not less than a bump for the party, especially when elections are a few days far. Former general secretary of the Pradesh Congress Committee Dharampal Thakur Khand is among the ex-Congress employees who joined hands with BJP.
Below is the list of defections joining BJP, according to ANI –
- Former secretary – Akash Saini,
- Former councillor Rajan Thakur,
- Former district vice-president Amit Mehta,
- Mehr Singh Kanwar,
- Youth Congress Rahul Negi,
- Jai Maa Shakti Social Sansthan president Joginder Thakur, Naresh Verma,
- Chamyana ward member Yogendra Singh,
- Taxi union member Rakesh Chauhan,
- Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage Shimla president – Dharmendra Kumar, Virendra Sharma, Rahul Rawat, Sonu Sharma, Arun Kumar, Shivam Kumar, & Gopal Thakur,
- Chaman Lal,
- District Congress Committee secretary Devendra Singh,
- Mahendra Singh,
- Former general secretary of Youth Congress Munish Mandla, Balkrishna Bobby, Sunil Sharma, Surendra Thakur, Sandeep Samta, & Ravi.
Along with Himachal Pradesh’s CM, Jai Ram Thakur, the State Election Head of the party, Sudhan Singh was also present at the moment when Congress leaders switched sides. The question is, Will Congress be able to overcome this jolt and win assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh?
It is not the first time, when Congress leaders have changed their party prior elections, it is now becoming a trend. This year only, in September, ahead of elections in Goa, eight out of eleven Congressmen joined BJP.
The voting count day of Himachal Pradesh’s votes are similar to the counting date of Gujarat. Aam Aadmi Party, Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress are in the league in the state.
Jai Ram Thakur’s statement
The CM of BJP, in a tweet stated that he feels “pity” on the workers of the opposition Congress Party, adding the party is going to get a “pathetic defeat”.
“Seeing the condition of the Congress party, now their leaders also feel pity. But this time also the condition of Congress in Himachal is going to be pathetic, because BJP’s historic victory is certain. There is a wonderful enthusiasm about elections in every citizen of Seraj”, tweeted the BJP leader.
The statement comes after Thakur attended Saraj constituency’s meeting. “My rule has gone with the BJP and will continue with the BJP. Certainly this time, with the full blessings of the people, there will be a historic victory for the BJP in Saraj”.
Meanwhile, Former Minister of IT, Telecom & Corporate affairs, and Congressman, Sachin Pilot is campaigning in the state for his party’s leaders.
“The people of Himachal Pradesh have now made up their mind to defeat the BJP and form the Congress government”, tweeted Sachin Pilot.
Rajasthan’s Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, while speaking during a conference in Shimla today, targeting Rahul Gandhi and Congress on Bharat Jodo Yatra, said, “The yatra of Rahul Gandhi is against inflation and unemployment, our fight is for policies and ideologies. I want to assure you that the guarantees and manifesto in Rajasthan and the state of Himachal Pradesh will be implemented”.
Is AAP giving up on Himachal elections ?
The campaigning by the Delhi CM and AAP leader, Arvind Kejriwal started with full enthusiasm in April this year, when he visited the state along with newly elected CM of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann.
But with time, it seems like the party has surrendered, according to BJP president JP Nadda, adding that, “people had seen through its poor governance in the neighbouring states of Punjab and Delhi”.
As per The Tribune, AAP is shifting its energy on Gujarat elections, as the party is gaining a much better response from the state, rather than Himachal Pradesh.
read more : BJP released its candidate list for Himachal Pradesh Assembly Elections
