Only man in fray, Bindal re-elected as Himachal BJP chief for 3rd term

Indian Express

4 days ago

Dr Rajiv Bindal was on Tuesday elected unopposed as the Himachal Pradesh BJP chief for a third term Tuesday. In the elections held Monday, Bindal was the only party leader to file nomination papers for the post.
Formally declaring the results, Union minister Jitendra Singh took a swipe at the Congress. 'In their party, leadership decisions are made in kitchens and over dining tables. In contrast, the BJP follows democratic principles where even an ordinary worker can rise to the top,' Jitendra Singh said.
Bindal's reappointment as state unit chief for a third term 'reflects the confidence of the organization in his leadership and ability to strengthen the party at the grassroots,' he added.
Hamirpur MP and former Union Minister Anurag Thakur said Bindal's appointment would energize the party. He claimed that if elections were held today, Congress wouldn't win even eight seats in state.
He also slammed the Congress government for administrative collapse and internal conflict.
Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur too criticised the Congress for failing to appoint office-bearers for nine months and for stalling development in the state.
BJP state in-charge Srikant Sharma said the party now has 18 lakh members in Himachal and is committed to making every booth strong under the 'Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot' campaign.
Bindal, on assuming the office, called on the party workers to work dedicatedly to oust the 'corrupt and untruthful government'.
'I will work 24×7 with the motto of nation first as the next two years are very challenging,' he said urging workers to pledge unity and rise above personal interests. His mission, Bindal said, is to ensure that 'lotus' blooms in Himachal Pradesh again.
He said that due to their commitment to the welfare of people former BJP chief ministers Shanta Kumar, Prem Kumar Dhumal and Jai Ram Thakur are remembered as 'Paniwala, Sadakwala and Sewawala' chief ministers.
Bindal said the party had led in 61 out of 68 Assembly segments in the recent Lok Sabha polls. He also highlighted the party's organisational achievements, including enrolling 47,000 active members, increasing the number of mandals from 74 to 171, and constituting committees in 7,775 of the 8,009 polling booths in the state.
Bindal remained an MLA from 2002 to 2022, serving five terms. He was thrice elected from Solan and twice from Nahan. He served as the health minister in the Prem Kumar Dhumal-led government from 2007 to 2012.
He was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the 13th Vidhan Sabha In January 2018, and held the post till January 2020. He also had a brief stint as the state BJP chief before being reappointed in April 2023.
Meanwhile, former minister Govind Thakur and party general secretaries Bihari Lal Sharma, Trilok Kapoor, Pawan Kajal, Rashmi Dhar Sood, Payal Vaidya, Rajiv Saizal and Sanjeev Katwal were elected as national council members.
Jai Ram Thakur; Anurag Thakur; Lok Sabha members Suresh Kashyap, Kangana Ranaut and Rajiv Bharadwaj; and Rajya Sabha members Indu Goswami, Sikender Kumar and Harsh Mahajan were elected as ex-officio members of the national council.