Shimla, June 19
In an interesting development, a Facebook post about Congress’s 2022 assembly elections candidate Dr. Rajesh Sharma went viral on social media. In the post, Dr. Sharma was seen crying publicly because he was not given a ticket for the bye-election. He claimed that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and the All India Congress Committee (AICC) had ignored him. Dr. Sharma alleged that his life was under threat, as he was warned not to participate in the election, or he would be eliminated. He stated that if he ran against the Chief Minister’s wife, people would find his dead body. Breaking down publicly, he expressed his disappointment with the party, feeling betrayed. However, people around him consoled him, encouraging him to fight like a lion, saying even a dead lion can be dangerous. Some of Dr. Sharma’s women supporters also expressed solidarity, stating that they have money and strength and would not be intimidated.
 https://www.facebook.com/share/r/KkdEKXJukzUL9H3z/?mibextid=oFDknk
It is noteworthy that the BJP candidate from the 2022 assembly election in Dehra, Ramesh Dhawala, is also causing similar trouble for the saffron party. He poses a significant challenge to the BJP candidate Hoshiyar Singh Chambiyal, who resigned as an Independent MLA and may face rebellion in the election.
While Congress may navigate safely in the Nalagarh and Hamirpur bye-elections, the episode involving Dr. Rajesh Sharma’s denied ticket and his public breakdown could jeopardize the Chief Minister’s wife’s debut in electoral politics.
However, no official rebuttal or denial was issued by the Congress party or the Chief Minister’s office to counter Dr. Sharma’s accusations about threats to his life.
The bye-elections for three assembly seats are considered unnecessary and unproductive since Independent MLAs were already elected in 2022. Their resignation has sparked political debate in the state. The three BJP candidates are on weak ground as they have to contest elections just 15 months after their electoral success.
Former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur stated yesterday that the three were forced to resign due to pressure from the Congress government. However, the three individuals have approached the high court, claiming their resignations were voluntary and not accepted. The BJP candidates, facing public backlash, initially submitted to the high court that they resigned without duress or allurement. Now, facing criticism, they are changing their statement, claiming they resigned under pressure from the Congress government.
The public outcry from rejected candidates from both BJP and Congress indicates the high stakes for all parties and independents in the bye-elections. The last date for filing nominations for the three bye-elections in the state is June 21, with intense competition within Congress and BJP for securing tickets.
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