While the election process for the RS seat will begin next month, the BJP high command has already cleared Shanta Kumar’s name for the seat. In fact, to make Prem Kumar Dhumal chief minister and use Shanta Kumar’s services at the national level was part of the party’s strategy before the Assembly elections. Shanta Kumar’s term is expected to begin from April. Shanta Kumar was a strong chief ministerial contender, but the party’s parliamentary board chose to throw its weight behind Dhumal, who led the BJP to victory and registered an impressive win of 41 seats in the 68-member House.

Comments BJP’s national vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, “Shanta Kumar acted gracefully. He not only endorsed the party’s decision, but agreed to work together and give the party his best. Both Shanta Kumar and Dhumal have set a good example of collective working.”

Meanwhile, lobbying in the BJP has already started for Hamirpur Lok Sabha byelection after Dhumal’s resignation from the seat, which he had won by a record margin of over 80,000 votes during the previous Congress rule.

Sources said former MP Suresh Chandel, who was expelled from the Lok Sabha after his involvement in the “cash-for-query” scam, is trying hard to convince the party to allow him to contest the seat. Chandel has been quite active in the organisation for the past six months and recently worked for the party’s victory in the Assembly elections.