Can the leader emerge party’s face in Kangra?
Lalit Mohan
Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, March 13
The rise of Indu Goswami from Kangra district after being nominated by the BJP for the Rajya Sabha seat is likely to create a new political axis in politically significant district having 15 Assembly segments.
Strong political comeback
- Her selection as party candidate from Palampur in 2017 Assembly had annoyed a group of BJP leaders.
- PM Narendra Modi had held a rally at Palampur in favour of Indu Goswami during Assembly polls.
- After her nomination as the Rajya Sabha, Indu Goswami has made a strong political comeback from Kangra
Indu could emerge as new face of the BJP from Kangra as. After former CM Shanta Kumar announced his retirement from active politics, the region was facing political vacuum.
After her announcement as the BJP candidate for the Rajya Sabha seat from state, vacated by veteran Congress leader Viplove Thaur, officers of the state bureaucracy and politicians are making a beeline for the residence of Indu to congratulate her.
The nomination to the Rajya Sabha has elevated the political stature of Indu who is believed to be a leader who has strong connections with the party high command at the Centre. Indu has been selected as Rajya Sabha nominee despite the presence of political heavyweights such as Mahinder Pandey, former state president of party Satpal Satti, former Rajya Sabha member Kirpal Parmar and Vice- Chancellor of CUHP Kuldeep Agnihotri, who has strong RSS links.
Sources here said Indu Gowami was pushed to political sidelines in Kangra during the tenure of current government. She had contested the last Assembly election from Palampur unsuccessfully. Her selection as party candidate from Palampur in the 2017 Assembly poll had annoyed a group of BJP leaders who had been holding sway over party matters in Kangra district for the past many decades.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had held a rally at Palampur in favour of Indu Goswami during the Assembly elections. Former BJP MLA Parveen Sharma had contested as an independent from Palampur contributing to the defeat of Indu Goswami.
After elections Indu Goswami was pushed to political sidelines by the state leader of party.
However, after her nomination as Rajya Sabha member from Himachal, Indu Goswami has made a strong political comeback from Kangra region as well as state. The sources told The Tribune that the current state leadership was not in favour of sending Indu Goswami to the Rajya Sabha. However, her name was finalised by the party high command and state leadership had to accept the decision.
