Missing in action: Shanta Kumar — founder member of BJP and first non-Cong CM

Kumar, who was elected to Lok Sabha for four terms, was the first non-Congress leader to take charge as chief minister of Himachal Pradesh in 1977

The party veteran has not campaigned for BJP candidate from Palampur, Trilok Kapoor. “He has not been seen in any of the rallies held in the city. He has been missing from the campaign,” said Manoj Kumar, a resident of Palampur. Another Palampur local, Chanchal Singh Rana said, “His era has ended”. (File)

Two-time former chief minister of Himachal Pradesh and one of the founding members of the Bharatiya Janata Party, veteran leader Shanta Kumar is conspicuous by his absence from the political scene, especially in his home town Palampur, at a time when campaigning for the November 12 Assembly polls have hit the feverish pitch.

Named as a star campaigner by the BJP, the 88-year-old, however, has been pushed to the fringes by the party’s top leadership. The BJP had earlier put a sudden stop to Kumar’s nearly 60-year-long political innings in 2019 by denying him a ticket for the Lok Sabha elections.

Kumar, who was elected to Lok Sabha for four terms, was the first non-Congress leader to take charge as chief minister of Himachal Pradesh in 1977. He had a second stint as CM in 1990. Both his terms as CM, however, were short-lived, with first ending in 1980 following defection engineered by the Congress and the second ending following the demolition of the Babri Masjid in December 1992.

Kumar, who once wielded influence over the 23 per cent Brahmins in the state, is now relegated to sidelines in his home town, Palampur, which swears by sitting Congress MLA Ashish Butail’s family. Butail’s supporters won in 13 wards out of total 15 last year in municipal elections.

The party veteran has not campaigned for BJP candidate from Palampur, Trilok Kapoor. “He has not been seen in any of the rallies held in the city. He has been missing from the campaign,” said Manoj Kumar, a resident of Palampur.
Another Palampur local, Chanchal Singh Rana said, “His era has ended”.

During the last election, Kumar had openly supported Parveen Sharma, who was dumped by the BJP, which gave ticket to Indu Goswami. Kumar had protested against the party high command. Parveen Sharma contested as an independent. He was ousted by the party but brought back into the party fold during Lok Sabha elections at Kumar’s behest.

In a rare outing on Sunday, Kumar campaigned for his aide and BJP nominee from Sullah Vipin Singh Parmar.

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More