BJP chalks out election strategy

They said that around 1,000 BJP workers would be deployed in the four Assembly segments and 16 Assembly segments of the Mandi Lok Sabha constituency. They said the workers would reach their destinations by May 15.

Replying to a question, Suresh Chandel said that Lahaul and Spiti Assembly seat had been left for the HVC, as per the agreement reached with the party.

He said that the presidents of the two parties, Prem Kumar Dhuml and Sukh Ram, would sort out the matter over fielding of the HVC candidate from Kinnaur. They said alliance with the HVC would continue for five years.

Maheshwar Singh said politics was a game of numbers and people of the state who wanted to be relieved of Virbhadra Singh government was a force behind coming into existance of the BJP-HVC alliance. They did not see any other reason for the post-poll alliance between the two.

Maheshwar Singh stressed for the better coordination between the HVC and the BJP and said that the situation which arose during the election of Mandi zila parishad president was the result of lack of coordination between the two. He hoped better coordination between the two would prevent any such happening in future.

The general secretary (organization) Surtesh Chandel, MP, said party executive discussed the issue of election of the state party chief.

Consensus which emerged during the meeting was that the new party chief should be elected unanimously. He said that process had already started in this direction. He said that the new party chief would be elected before the Gandhi Nagar session of the party next month.