Several senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders from Himachal Pradesh have raised the banner of revolt against the party leadership over denial of tickets ahead of the crucial second phase elections for 65 assembly seats in the state.
Former MLA Rakesh Pathania from Nurpur, Desh Raj from Gangrath and Ramesh Sharma from Drang in Mandi district went public expressing their annoyance over denial of ticket.
Reports from Nurpur in Kangra district said that supporters of the dissenting leaders served an ultimatum to the BJP high command to reconsider the decision of giving ticket to newcomer Malvika Pathania.
Supporters of Desh Raj from Gangrath assembly seat in Kangra district and Ramesh Sharma in Mandi district also organised protests and warned the saffron party of huge losses if their leaders were not given tickets.
Drang block president of BJP Amar Chand tendered his resignation over denial of ticket to Ramesh Sharma.
Former minister Karn Singh has already resigned from BJP over denial of ticket from Banjar in Kullu district.
The BJP central leadership has declared candidates for 57 of the 65 seats going to polls in the second phase of polls on December 19.
Names of candidates for the rest of eight seats, including the decision whether to field party stalwarts Shanta Kumar and Prem Kumar Dhumal from Palampur and Bamsan respectively, has been postponed and is likely to be taken at a meeting in Delhi on Sunday.
