Himachal Lokhit Party may bleed BJP in HP

MANALI: Statewide anti-BJP campaigns by four-time MP and BJP rebel Meheshwar Singh, who is also founder of Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP), may prove fatal for BJP in Himachal as he has started targeting leaders who once used to be his close political colleagues.

Maheshwar Singh, who is scion of erstwhile Kullu princely state, has a large voter base, especially local people. Now he is diverting his vote bank to Aam Aadmi Party. Though HLP is not contesting parliamentary elections from any seat in Himachal, its workers have accelerated anti-BJP campaigns throughout the state. Maheshwar Singh had quit BJP after alleging that most of its leaders were indulged in corruption.

"BJP and Congress do not have election issues of public interest and both parties are copying issues of HLP and AAP," he said, adding that since AAP and HLP were fighting for the same issues therefore his party was requesting people to vote for AAP. Attacking Shanta Kumar, Maheshwar said that he has again joined the company of corrupt people.

However, he ruled out any possibility of merger with AAP. "We will be contesting parliamentary elections next time. If HLP is against corrupt BJP then it doesn't mean that we support Congress. People should avoid voting for both the parties."