The state BJP has declared the names of remaining three candidates for parliamentary constituencies of Himachal Pradesh. The party had already cleared the name of sitting Lok Sabha member Anurag Thakur, son of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, for the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency.

Rajan Sushant, sitting MLA from Jwali constituency, has been fielded from the politically-significant Kangra Lok Sabha segment.

Former state BJP president and former MP Maheshwar Singh has got a ticket from Mandi and Virender Kashyap has been named from Shimla (reserve) parliamentary constituency. The state poll panel had forwarded only one name from each segment.

“The state election committee met at Delhi today morning and cleared these names. These names were approved by the Central Election Committee later in the evening,” said Mohinder Pandey, state BJP general secretary (organisation).

One-time detractor of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, Rajan Sushant had remained revenue minister in the previous Dhumal government.

Maheshwar Singh, who has been selected as the BJP candidate from Mandi parliamentary constituency, has remained state BJP president and is a former Lok Sabha member.

Virender Kashyap, who has been selected from Shimla (reserve) parliamentary segment, has unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha polls thrice. He has also contested the Vidhan Sabha elections unsuccessfully.

Will speak up for Himachal residents, if elected: Sushant
“Issues relating to this hill state have not been raised forcefully in the Lok Sabha and this has deprived Himachal Pradesh from its due development,” is how sitting MLA from Jwali, Rajan Sushant, who has been selected from Kangra parliamentary seat by the BJP, reacted when asked to comment on his candidature.

“Himachali people have not got proper justice as important issues relating to them have not been raised forcefully in the Lok Sabha during the past,’’ said Rajan Sushant, when asked why he opted to contest the Lok Sabha polls despite being a sitting MLA.