Although the Traditional official stand of the BJP is not disclose the chief ministerial candidate, senior party leaders say that if the party comes to power, the toss up would be between former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, Union Health Minister JP Nadda and the dark horse is RSS backed Indu Goswami.

While releasing the vision document of the party, Finance Minister Arun Jaitely said only “an experienced person” would be made the Chief Minister”. Many see that this was perhaps a hint that Dhumal would be the next chief minister. In BJP, he has the longest experience as a chief minister and has the potential of endearing the MlAs due to his flexible approach to the various ticklish matters.

Another potential candidate can be the Union Health Minister J.P.Nadda, a confidant of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, as Cabinet minister in the Centre, it may not suit him to opt for the chief ministership of a small state which was equal to a district of U.P., a BJP leader points out.

The name of Indu Goswami, who had also been a Pracharak of the RSS is also doing rounds in the political circles and BJP supporters. Her contest from Palampur constituency is also tough as Congress candidate Ashish Butail, son of former Speaker Brij Behari lal Butail, is from a family of freedom fighters and well entrenched in the region.

His uncle lala Kanahia lal Butail was in jail with Pt Jawahar lal Nehru. During his first visit to Palampur as Prime Minister of independent India he called from the stage, Where is Kanhaya lal and Jai lal ( who too was in the jail with Nehru) Both of them went running up to the stage and Nehru embraced them warmly, old timers recall.