Debuting within the Himachal Meeting elections this yr with an 11-point manifesto, Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Social gathering (AAP) appears to have realised it has bitten off greater than it might probably chew. Though it has filed nominations in 67 out of the 68 seats at play, it’s only in round 5 seats that its candidates seem like critical contenders, although as spoilers for candidates of both the BJP or the Congress.
AAP’s focus has shifted to Gujarat, the place it’s getting higher response. This has left most of its Himachal candidates within the lurch.
However, listed below are 5 candidates who can spoil the prospect of both frontrunner.
Former BJP MP Rajan Sushant, from Fatehpur
The once-firebrand former MP Rajan Sushant is contesting from the Fatehpur seat in Kangra district, from the place he had final contested within the 2021 bypoll as an Impartial, receiving 12,927 votes whereas coming third, behind the BJP’s Baldev Thakur, who garnered 18,660, and the winner Bhawani Singh Pathania, who acquired 24,499 votes. Within the 2017 Meeting polls, he contested as an Impartial and acquired 6,205 votes.
Within the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Rajan Sushant was the state-level face and state convener of the nonetheless nascent AAP, however did not make an influence as a result of infighting, getting 24,430 votes. He later left AAP, and rejoined solely two months earlier than these polls, getting the AAP ticket once more.
This has resulted in a four-cornered combat in Fatehpur, together with BJP Forest Minister Rakesh Pathania, who’s the sitting MLA from Nurpur, BJP insurgent and former MP Kripal Parmar who’s contesting as an Impartial, and sitting Congress MLA Bhawani Singh Pathania, who received the 2021 by-election after his father Sujan Singh Pathania, who received the seat in 2017, died.
Rajan Sushant remained lively after the bypoll loss, and supported the demand for return to the Outdated Pension Scheme (OPS). He’s thought-about to be the one AAP candidate who may win.
Manish Thakur, former Youth Congress president, from Paonta Sahib
In Paonta Sahib constituency of Sirmaur district, the place 4 BJP rebels have put the BJP candidate and incumbent MLA and Energy Minister Sukh Ram Chaudhary in a spot of trouble, Manish Thakur will carry the AAP flag. He’s additionally pitted in opposition to Congress candidate Kirnesh Jung, who has misplaced this seat twice. Thakur, a first-timer, says persons are in opposition to the sitting minister in addition to the Congress candidate.
The previous Youth Congress president additionally highlights that although Paonta Sahib is surrounded by rivers on all sides, it has been going through a water disaster for a very long time. He additionally talks concerning the constituency recurrently going through energy cuts, ever since Chaudhary turned the Energy Minister within the Jai Ram Thakur Cupboard, including that folks desire a new face this time and he’s getting a great response from them. He claims he has been working right here for the previous 12 years, when he was within the NSUI and Youth Congress. He changed Vikramaditya Singh in 2018 because the YC president, whereas Singh was elected to the Himachal Meeting in December 2017.
Manish Thakur, a first-timer, says persons are in opposition to the sitting minister in addition to the Congress candidate.
Harmel Dhiman, former BJP SC Morcha president, from Kasauli (SC)
In a triangular contest for the Kasauli (SC) seat in Solan district, Harmel Dhiman is contesting on the AAP ticket, in a combat in opposition to Well being and Household Welfare Minister Rajiv Saijal and Congress candidate Vinod Sultanpuri, the son of seven-time MP Okay D Sultanpuri. Dhiman is eyeing BJP and Congress cadre who’re reportedly offended with each Saijal and Sultanpuri.
Dhiman was with the BJP for a few years, so he’s claiming the assist of many BJP staff and office-bearers. He says that in Kasauli constituency, even whereas there was no growth within the final 5 years, the Congress candidate remained silent, solely showing throughout election time.
Harmel Dhiman was with the BJP for a few years, so he’s claiming the assist of many BJP staff and office-bearers.
Dharam Pal Chauhan, former Congress zila parishad chairman, from Solan
Nalagarh has three candidates with Congress background within the fray, who’re all pitted in opposition to the BJP insurgent Okay.L. Thakur.
AAP candidate Dharam Pal Chauhan, former chairman of the Solan zila parishad, is in a troublesome contest. The Congress has fielded Hardeep Singh Bawa, a staunch loyalist of former CM Virbhadra Singh, whereas the BJP ticket has gone to Congress insurgent and incumbent MLA Lakhwinder Rana. In an attention-grabbing combat, BJP supporters seem like siding with the BJP insurgent Okay L Thakur, who’s contesting as an Impartial. Many of the block Congress office-bearers and supporters are working for the BJP’s Rana, whereas Congress candidate Bawa has the backing of his personal supporters, in addition to the anti-Rana supporters within the Congress.
Dharam Pal Chauhan is eyeing offended voters of each camps. He additionally has his personal votebank, as he received the zila parishad elections as a Congress-backed candidate in 2015 from the Kheda ward to develop into the chairman of the Solan zila parishad. He, although, claims that Bawa is an outsider, whereas the BJP is split in six teams with nobody supporting Rana. “The combat is between me and Thakur,” he claimed.
AAP candidate Dharam Pal Chauhan, former chairman of the Solan zila parishad, is in a troublesome contest.
Jabna Kumari from Nachan (SC)
As soon as a youth icon of Himachal Pradesh as its youngest panchayat sarpanch, Jabna Chauhan is contesting from Nachan in Mandi district. From a humble household background, Jabna can also be eyeing offended voters from each the BJP and the Congress. She expects ladies voters to go together with her, as she had banned liquor in her panchayat. She may find yourself getting a large variety of votes, regardless of going through a useful resource crunch. She says ladies of the world are together with her, because the sitting MLA has accomplished nothing since contesting the final election on the promise that he would open a university within the space. There may be infighting within the Congress as effectively.
From a humble household background, Jabna Kumari can also be eyeing offended voters from each the BJP and the Congress.