BJP to project Dhumal as CM candidate in Himachal

After the 90-minute meeting, BJP chief Rajnath Singh said the Parliamentary Board has 8220;unanimously8221; decided to project Dhumal as the party8217;s leader in Assembly elections while Kumar will work at the Central level.

The decision was taken after consultations with the state leaders, Singh told reporters in the presence of Dhumal and Kumar after the meeting attended by senior leader L K Advani, Jaswant Singh, Venkaiah Naidu and Sushma Swaraj among thers.

The move came as a surprise as senior leaders here have been saying that BJP will not project a Chief Ministerial candidate as such a decision could lead to divisions and spoil its electoral chances in the mountain state.

63-year-old Dhumal, who was Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh from 1998 to 2003, presently represents Hamirpur seat in the Lok Sabha. He had been elected to the lower house twice earlier.

Talking to reporters, Kumar exuded confidence that BJP will come to power with a comfortable majority and rubbished talks of division in the state unit. 8220;Unity has always been there and will remain,8221; he added.

Dhumal said he will work with full cooperation and guidance from Kumar.