BJP leaders continue protest against ticket distribution in HP

Shimla, Nov 26 (UNI) The continuing bickering within the BJP over the distribution of tickets in the remaining 65 assembly constituencies of Himachal Pradesh is likely to mar its chances in several assembly segments which go the polls on December nine.

Senior BJP leader and former MP Maheshwar Singh today asked the party to reconsider its decision on allotting ticket to Gobind Thakur from Kullu assembly constituency, from where he was seeking re-election, by November 30.

''Provided the party does not re-consider its decision by that date, I will decide my future course of action after that,'' he told a press conference at Kullu.

Mr Singh, who has remained a Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha member besides a legislator, said he had turned down a request by the Mandi party unit to contest elections from there as it would have been difficult for him to contest elections from there.

Without naming former union minister Shanta Kumar, who has earlier in the day asked to play a lead role in the central leadership following the party's decision to project former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal as it's chief ministerial candidate, he said the senior party leaders were being prevented from contesting elections by the party.

He also questioned the party's hurry in announcing the candidate from Kullu constituency when it had failed in clearing names from Shimla, Rohru and few others.

''Do they want to ensure a easy victory for the chief minister?'' he questioned.

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