BJP must leave Shimla, Mandi seats for HVC — Sukh Ram

SHIMLA, JULY 7: The Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC), a partner in the BJP-led government in Himachal Pradesh, today warned of political ins...

SHIMLA, JULY 7: The Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC), a partner in the BJP-led government in Himachal Pradesh, today warned of political instability in the state if BJP did not leave the Mandi and Shimla (reserved) Lok Sabha seats for HVC candidates in the coming elections.

The HVC is “keeping all options open” in case the BJP does not accept its demand, party president Sukh Ram said.

Addressing a press conference after a meeting of party workers, Sukh Ram said he had been authorised to take “appropriate action” if the BJP failed to reach a reasonable settlement on sharing of seats for the Lok Sabha elections.

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He said the party workers were “restive” over the delay on the BJP’s part.

Sukh Ram said he hoped the BJP would take a “reasonable decision” so that the matter could be resolved amicably.

Of the 68 members in the House, 32 are from the BJP, five belong to the HVC, 28 to the Congress, and there is one Independent.

Sukh Ram claimed the BJP high command and Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumalwere “aware of the strength of the HVC” and claimed the BJP could not win the Mandi and Shimla seats without the HVC’s support.

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