M A I N   N E W S

Shanta likely to head HP poll committee
S. Satyanarayanan
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 23
Gujarat experience seems to be the new mantra for the BJP for resolving bitter factional feud in Himachal Pradesh between the two top leaders with the party high command contemplating making Union Rural Development Minister Shanta Kumar as the in charge of the election campaign committee.

The party has announced that the coming poll will be contested under the leadership of Himachal Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal.

In an effort to give a united fight in Himachal Pradesh, the high command is seriously toying to make Shanta Kumar as the chief coordinator of the 10-member election campaign committee, which would decide, coordinate and implement the party’s campaign strategy in the coming Assembly poll.

Although Mr Shanta Kumar was initially reluctant to head the committee, he is likely to accept the decision of the party to demonstrate the united face of the party ahead of the poll in the hill state, which will be an important benchmark for BJP’s future electoral prospects in other states, especially Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, sources said.

However, a final decision in this regard will be taken by party President Venkaiah Naidu only after a meeting with top Himachal Pradesh and Central leaders here tomorrow.

It may be recalled that in Gujarat the BJP Central leadership had made former Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, who was at loggerheads with Narendra Modi, the election campaign committee chief and the latter was projected as the Chief Minister.

According to the sources, Mr Shanta Kumar held a separate meeting yesterday with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and Mr Venkaiah Naidu.

“Even as he (Mr Shanta Kumar) gave his frank assessment about the ground situation in Himachal Pradesh and also his views about Mr Dhumal, he assured to do his level best to ensure that the BJP returns to power in the state,” a party source told The Tribune.