Ahead of Himachal Polls, Congress Minister Anil Sharma Joins BJP

File image of Anil Sharma (right).

(Photo Courtesy: Anil Sharma/Facebook)

Himachal Cabinet Minister Anil Sharma on Sunday, 15 October, resigned from the government and the ruling Congress and joined the opposition BJP along with his father and former Telecom Minister Sukh Ram. This comes days after EC announced that assembly elections in the state will be held on 9 November.

Speculations were rife that senior Congress leader and Transport Minister GS Bali may also switch sides.

I have resigned from both the Congress and the government due to deliberate ignoring by the party. I and Pandit Sukh Ram ji were deliberately ignored at party Vice President Rahul Gandhi’s Mandi rally... Later, in the constitution of the election committees by the Congress central leadership, my name was missing.

Anil Sharma

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh later told media persons, “Anil Sharma is a junior leader. He and his father Sukh Ram formed the Himachal Vikas Congress and supported the Bharatiya Janata Party government in 1998. Their departure will not affect Congress's prospects in the November 9 elections.”

As rumours swirled about him, GS Bali said in a Facebook post:

People of Nagrota Bagwan (his constituency) are like my family and my relationship with you is emotional. I will be soon among you people. Will discuss things and then take any decision.

Hinting that Bali, a four-time legislator known for his flamboyance, was also likely to quit the Congress, the Chief Minister said: “The party will discuss the BJP's attempts at weaning away Congress members.”

(With inputs from IANS)

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