Himachal Pradesh’s leadership is unlikely to change, according to BJP Chief Nadda

*Paromita Das

While the BJP has decided to run in the upcoming Assembly elections under the leadership of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, the possibility of some sitting MLAs being denied a ticket cannot be ruled out, as party national president JP Nadda stated here on Sunday.

Leaving aside all speculation about a leadership change in Himachal, Nadda stated that the state Assembly elections will be held under the leadership of Chief Minister Thakur. The statement by Nadda has finally put an end to speculation about a leadership change in the state ahead of the Assembly elections, as the saffron party did in Uttrakhand.
“The BJP Government is performing admirably, and there is no prospect of a leadership change in the state,” Nadda said. When asked if sitting MLAs’ tickets could be denied, Nadda said it was always a possibility and would be determined by changing circumstances. In any case, he added, we change about 10% of the total ticket in any election.

This Nadda statement may cause sleepless nights for not only MLAs but also several leaders. It is understood that during his meeting with senior leaders, Nadda hinted that the organization was far more important than the individual, which should be remembered.
He also told the leaders that they needed to effectively communicate the government’s accomplishments to the masses, quell dissent, and win over disgruntled party leaders.

Even though talk of a leadership change in Himachal had been circulating, a statement by Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia fueled speculation by stating that Union Minister Anurag Thakur would replace Jai Ram Thakur. “I am completely satisfied and pleased with the coordination between the party and the state government,” Nadda stated. He also dismissed the possibility of a Cabinet reshuffle.
Nadda, who is on a four-day tour of the state, has effectively launched the BJP campaign not only for the Assembly elections but also for the Shimla Municipal Corporation elections. He has held marathon meetings with the Core Committee, which includes top state leadership, party legislators, state executive office-bearers, councilors, and local leaders, over the last two days.

Nadda also denied rumors of infighting within the party. “The BJP is a democratic party, unlike others where speaking one’s mind is considered dissidence,” he said.
He, on the other hand, chose to take a tactical stance on the issue of granting old pension schemes to employees, which is expected to be a major election issue in the Assembly polls. “We have to come to a decision on this issue taking into account every aspect because it is people friendly,” he said, remaining non-committal on the subject.