Bickering over tickets in Himachal BJP continues

Shimla, Nov 25 (UNI) The BJP woes over the allotment of tickets do not seem to come to an end with another senior party leader Roop Dass Kashyap today announcing his decision to contest the elections as an independent from Kasumpati constituency.

''I have sent in my resignation from the party to state president Jairam Thakur following its decision not to re-nominate me from the constituency where I have a large following,'' he told UNI here.

Mr Kashyap said he has decided to contest the elections as an independent from the Kasumpati constituency after holding discussions with his supporters.

''The party has done injustice to me by nominating Mr Tarsem Bharti from the constituency. It has given ticket to him despite the mandal recommending my name,'' he said.

He said inspite of the fact that 18 gram shakti kendras out of a total of 20 had forwarded his name to the state election committee, the party has given ticket to a relative new comer in the constituency.

Meanwhile, in Kangra district, party leaders have broken ranks to oppose the candidature of three-time legislator from Kangra constituency Vidya Sagar and said the party should have second thoughts on his name, party sources told UNI here.

Twelve candidates, who had applied for ticket from this constituency, today stopped former union minister Shanta Kumar's vehicle at Icchhi on the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway and urged him to replace him since he had fought elections against the official party candidate, who eventually lost the elections.

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