The electoral challenge of Mandi has united the BJP in Himachal Pradesh like never before. Rebels who had contested the 2012 Assembly elections independently and become a factor in the defeat of official BJP candidates, have now extended unconditional support to party's official candidate for the Mandi parliamentary by-poll.
In the by-poll, BJP's Jai Ram Thakur, four-time MlA from Seraj Assembly constituency, is facing a formidable challenge from Congress candidate Pratibha Singh, wife of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who is also an ex-MP from the same seat.
The return of three rebels of BJP, who enjoy considerable clout in their Assembly segments, will only strengthen Thakur's hands in the
constituency.
BJP strategists were working behind closed doors round-the-clock to bring the rebels back to the party fold and hence disciplinary action against them was deferred. The rebels were led by Roop Singh Thakur, who was the sitting MlA from Sunder Nagar constituency but was denied the ticket by BJP after which he contested the election independently and was in second position above the official BJP candidate.
last week, a secret meeting of BJP rebels was also held at Sunder Nagar at the behest of Roop Singh Thakur. Since then speculations were rife of the return of rebels into the party fold.
On Wednesday, three rebels, including Roop Singh Thakur, Mahant Chaudhary from Balh Assembly constituency and Krishan Kumar from Mandi Assembly constituency extended their unconditional support to BJP candidate Jai Ram Thakur in the presence of leader of Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal.
He also participated in the public rallies, seeking support for Thakur.
"With the inclusion of three rebels back into the party fold and their unconditional support, other rebels who contested the Assembly elections independently could also come in," said a senior party office-bearer.
BJP is leaving no stone unturned to woo the voters of Mandi parliamentary constituency as the stakes are high for both the BJP and the Congress. Victory would indicate which way the wind is blowing ahead of the 2014 parliamentary polls.