Former BJP councillor crosses over to support Congress in MC election
Shimla, May 2
In a surprising turn of events, a former Councillor of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress rebel, Archana Dhawan, displayed her support for Congress candidate Atul Gautam in the Shimla Municipal Corporation (MC) poll held today from Jakhu ward. Dhawan had joined the BJP in July, 2019, after deserting the Congress party, for which she had remained a dedicated worker and a three-time councillor from the same ward.
Dhawan’s departure from the Congress was not taken well by the party, especially since the BJP had swept the Shimla MC election in 2017 for the first time, wooing several party councillors from different parties, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
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While talking to us on the phone, though Dhawan did not reveal whether she voted for Congress or BJP, but she rued that, though has not quit the BJP yet, but, is not happy with the treatment she was given by the Saffron party management in the last 3 years. She said that she was not involved in the BJP campaign at all, this time. Adding, “When top BJP leaders like Suresh Bhardwaj were side-lined by the party, then where do we stand,” commented Dhawan.
It is noteworthy that Dhawan was once considered close to Holy Lodge and had been among the most dedicated workers of the Congress party in Jakhu.
In the Jakhu ward, contest is between Congress candidate Atul Gautam and BJP’s Rajan Aggarwal. However, it appears that not only Dhawan but also several dedicated workers of the party are not aligning with the BJP candidate in the ward.
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