SHIMLA: BJPтАЩs quest for a consecutive mandate in Himachal Pradesh appears enmeshed in growing factionalism as audio clips and a letter to national president J P Nadda have emerged, showing the saffron party has more to contend with than just the December 8 poll verdict.
A BJP functionary said the presence of тАЬrebel candidatesтАЭ in some constituencies was part of a planned move by a faction opposed to chief minister Jai Ram Thakur. Most of them contested as independents.
The clips, one of them about the rebel factionтАЩs strategy in the Jogindernagar seat of Mandi district and another of a conversation regarding the Dalhousie seat in Chamba, suggestthat those denied tickets worked against their party.
Sources said that in several seats, disgruntled ticket-seekers and their backers remained within BJP while campaigning against the nominated party candidates. The party is apparently drawing up a list of names against whom action might be initiated.
Besides factionalism, changing a ministerтАЩs preferred seat to field former Congress working chief Pawan Kajal there may have added to BJPтАЩs challenge in Kangra. History shows that the party winning the most number of seats in Kangra district usually forms the government in HP.
A BJP functionary said the presence of тАЬrebel candidatesтАЭ in some constituencies was part of a planned move by a faction opposed to chief minister Jai Ram Thakur. Most of them contested as independents.
The clips, one of them about the rebel factionтАЩs strategy in the Jogindernagar seat of Mandi district and another of a conversation regarding the Dalhousie seat in Chamba, suggestthat those denied tickets worked against their party.
Sources said that in several seats, disgruntled ticket-seekers and their backers remained within BJP while campaigning against the nominated party candidates. The party is apparently drawing up a list of names against whom action might be initiated.
Besides factionalism, changing a ministerтАЩs preferred seat to field former Congress working chief Pawan Kajal there may have added to BJPтАЩs challenge in Kangra. History shows that the party winning the most number of seats in Kangra district usually forms the government in HP.
