SHIMLA: In Jubbal-Kotkhai assembly constituency, known as the apple heartland of Himachal Pradesh, the presence of rebel candidate Chetan Bragta, son of former BJP MLA Narender Bragta, has spelled trouble for BJP as all efforts to pacify him failed and he refused to withdraw his name on Wednesday, which was the last date to do so.
This leaves a triangular contest on the seat between Congress candidate Rohit Thakur, BJP’s Neelam Saraik and Bragta. Bragta, who was the state convener of BJP’s IT department, was later in the day suspended from the party for six years for contesting election against the party candidate. Already, apple growers are already not happy with the government and are holding protests against it. Now, the presence of a rebel is expected to make the Jubbal-Kotkhai byelection, necessitated by the demise of Chetan’s father in June, tougher for the ruling party.
Under pressure to withdraw his name, Bragta remained in an undisclosed location throughout the day and he appeared before his supporters through social media only.
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