After intense infighting in Karnataka and Uttarakhand, it is now a hill state where the BJP seems to be in a self-destructive mode. In Himachal Pradesh, the political temperature has suddenly soared with the formation of the Himachal Bhrashtachar Mukti Morcha by members of senior BJP vice-president Shanta Kumar’s faction.
Although Mr Shanta Kumar has tried to distance himself from the entire controversy by saying that he is “pained by the developments”, it is no coincidence that the convenor of the morcha, former MP Maheswar Singh, and all other members of morcha are close aides of Mr Shanta Kumar.
The members of the morcha are touting it as a non-political organisation formed to free Himachal from corruption by exposing corrupt people. However, the morcha is causing great embarrassment to the Prem Kumar Dhumal government, which is about to face two byelections and is only a year away from Assembly elections. The formation of this front by a BJP leader has given credence to the accusations of the Opposition Congress. The Congress has accused the BJP of giving land to private universities and other industries and ignoring the state’s interest.
The BJP in Himachal has suffered serious factionalism even in the past. Mr Dhumal’s detractors formed the Mitra Mandal during his last tenure, costing the party the 2003 Assembly elections.
The fact that this morcha is being termed “non-political” is not cutting much ice even within the BJP. “This is purely a non-political front and has nothing to do with the internal working of the party. We will seek information on RTI and try to bring it to the notice of the government. If nothing happens we will think about our next step,” says morcha convenor, former MP Maheswar Singh. “We will decide our next course of action after our meeting on November 9,” he added.
However, BJP sources say that the Shanta faction, which feels marginalised in the state politics, wants its share in power. It could well spill the beans if not given share in power, sources say.
With Mr Dhumal in an unrelenting mood, the BJP seems to be heading for a long spate of infighting in the state. Mr Dhumal has taken a strong stand against the dissent by stating that “those who are not with the party are not in the party”. He said: “There is no infighting in the party. They would always target those who are in power. We will win the byelections and it will be a trailer for the Assembly elections next year.”
As Mr L.K. Advani’s yatra reaches Himachal next week, the state BJP could surprise him with some fireworks.