Dulo Ram files nomination papers for Baijnath

DHARAMSALA, Nov 5: Gaddi leader and BJP candidate for Baijnath by-election Dulo Ram today filed his nomination papers amid rousing reception...

DHARAMSALA, Nov 5: Gaddi leader and BJP candidate for Baijnath by-election Dulo Ram today filed his nomination papers amid rousing reception by over 5,000 BJP workers, who had gathered in Baijnath town from the entire assembly segment.

Quite a few HVC men also present on the occasion even as HVC leader Kishori Lal, who fought elections as HVC candidate from here last time quit the party to join the Congress again in protest against the quot;double standards kept by the HVC leadership in reaching at an agreement on consensus candidate for the Baijnath seat.quot; Flanked by the BJP state president, Suresh Chandel, BJP ministers Krishan Kapur, Vidyasagar, Ravinder Ravi, Praveen Sharma and MLAs Atma Ram and Sarveen Chaudhary, Dulo Ram, filed four sets of nomination papers. There is no covering candidate for him.

Dulo Ram, who got the Assembly ticket after much effort with former chief minister Shanta Kumar8217;s backing, was confident about his chances in his fifth election from Baijnath assembly seat.

quot;In February, I had lost election to the late Congress leader, Sant Ram by a slender margin because of misuse of government machinery by the Congressquot;, he said. quot; The BJP would definitely win this time because of its excellent performance in the state and Centre. And then it is a united house against bickerings in Congress,quot; he claimed.

The BJP leaders, later, addressed a public meeting at Paprola. Initially, a ticket claimant for Baijnath from the BJP against Dulo Ram, Indu Goswami also attended the meeting.

Meanwhile state president BJP Suresh Chandel today categorically said that the BJP-HVC coalition in Himachal would continue as such even after BJP wins the Baijnath Assembly seat.Talking to media persons at Baijnath he said that there was absolutely no dispute between the BJP and the HVC over Baijnath by-election and a settlement had already been reached at the level of BJP and HVC leadership in Himachal.

quot;The HVC has helped the BJP form government in the state at the time, when our parts lacked majority. The BJP will also stand by its commitment for the coalition partner in case the party candidate Dulo Ram wins, giving it due majority in Vidhan Sabha,8221; Chandel said.