Sukh Ram, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a former Union Minister of India, on the 25th of March, rejoined the Indian National Congress (INC.)
Speaking about his reason behind leaving the BJP, Sukh Ram said, he had a word with the Party to give a BJP ticket to his grandson, Ashray, to contest from Mandi. However, the Party, after having a meeting, gave the Mandi constituency to Ramswaroop Sharma, a sitting Member of Parliament (MP) of the Party.
Sukh Ram, along with Ashray Sharma, joined the INC, in New Delhi. Rahul Gandhi welcomed both Sukh Ram and Ashray to the Party. Though the INC welcomed both the new members, they did not give any assurance to Sukh Ram as to whether they will provide an INC ticket to Ashray to contest from Mandi.
In 2017, Sukh Ram left the INC and joined the BJP during the Assembly elections. He said, he felt humiliated by the INC, following which, he left the Party. Sukh Ram joining the INC again is being called ‘homecoming.’
Satpal Singh Satti, the President of the BJP in Himachal Pradesh, said, “The Congress supporters will vote for the Congress and the BJP supporters will vote for the BJP. Hence, Sukh Ram ji joining the Congress is not going to affect us.”
According to the BJP, Sukh Ram was not a member of the Party, whereas Sukh Ram claims, he was an important part of the BJP in the State.
The joining of Sukh Ram and Ashray could be a major setback for Anil Sharma, the son of Sukh Ram, as the latter is a BJP member and could face difficulties as a part of the Party.
Anil Sharma met Jai Ram Thakur, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, and said, “I have told him (the Chief Minister) that they may take action (against me) based on my father and son’s decision to join the Congress.”
Jai Ram Thakur, in response, said, “I met Anil Sharma and he told me that the Congress was requesting his son to contest from Mandi. I told him (Anil) to campaign for the BJP in Mandi. Sukh Ram and his (Anil’s) son were never members of the BJP, so whether they join the Congress is not an issue for the BJP. Anil ji is a Minister in the government. He (Anil) has to now decide what he wishes to do.”
The situation may be an advantageous one for the INC or a drawback for it.
Himachal Pradesh will contest a total of 4 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, scheduled on the 19th of May 2019.
The major Parties contesting the Lok Sabha elections are the INC and the BJP.
The results of the elections will be announced on the 23rd of May 2019.
Stay tuned for further updates about the Lok Sabha elections.
