18 May 2024, Himachal Desk – While taking a strict view of them the candidates contesting the June 1 assembly byelections in Himachal Pradesh against the party nominees as Independent candidates, the BJP on friday took decision & expelled Ram Lal Markanda and Rakesh Chaudhary for at least six years.
Ram Lal Markanda, a former minister, and Rakesh Chaudhary had filed nomination papers as Independent candidates from Lahaul – Spiti and Dharamshala , respectively.
Last date for withdrawing nominations ended on Friday, stated BJP State Chief Rajev Bindal & further issued expulsion orders.”You are contesting the assembly elections as independents against the party(BJP) candidates. The decision taken amounts to indiscipline.
Henceforth, under disciplinary measures, your preliminary membership has been revoked and you are expelled from the party for six years,” the order read.
The Lahaul Spiti and Dharamshala assembly seats fell vacant along with the four other constituencies from where Congress legislatures rebelled against the party and cross voted in favour of the BJP during the Rajya Sabaha Elections in February whilst creating a critical crisis for the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government.
The six Congress rebel legislators namely – Sudhir Sharma(Dharamshala), Rajinder Rana(Sujanpur), Ravi Thakur(Lahaul Spiti), Inder Dutt Lakhanpal(Barsar), Chetanya Sharma(Gagret) and Devinder Kumar Bhutto(Kutlehar)- cross voted during the Rajya Sabha elections and joined the BJP, following which they were the tickets for the by-polls.
Both the BJP candidates Markanda and Chaudhary were upset with the party fielding Congress turncoats and had resigned from the party.
“The candidates both were trying for the congress ticket but could nopt get it. The congress fielded Anuradha Rana in Lahaul-Spiti and former Mayor Devinder Singh Jaggi in Dharamshala”- SOURCE.