Himachal Pradesh: It's time for rebels' ghar wapsi

SHIMLA: In the election season, it is time for the “ghar wapsi” (homecoming) of rebels who once ditched their parties either to contest as independents or to float their own outfit. A day after the Congress brought back rebel leader Harish Janartha who had contested as independent from Shimla assembly seat in 2017, BJP on Saturday brought former minister Mahender Nath Sofat back into party fold.Sofat was among the founder members of Himachal Lokhit Party floated before 2012 assembly election by BJP rebels.
Mahender Nath Sofat was a close associate of former chief minister Shanta Kumar and before the parliamentary election, his “ghar wapsi” has been ensured on the direction of BJP high command. Along with his supporters from Solan district, Sofat returned to BJP in the presence of chief minister Jai Ram Thakur, BJP’s election incharge for state Tirath Singh Rawat and education minister Suresh Bhardwaj.
Jai Ram Thakur said that the decision was taken after discussing the matter with BJP high command. He said that with the return of Sofat, BJP will be strengthened in Shimla parliamentary seat and to achieve the target of winning this seat now Sofat will be helpful. Sofat had been transport minister in the BJP government headed by then chief minister Shanta Kumar in 1992 and later in 2012, he had joined Himachal Lokhit Party floated by Maheshwar Singh that was later merged into BJP.
On Friday, Congress had held a programme to welcome the return of rebel leaders Harish Janarth into party fold. In 2017, Janartha had contested as independent candidate from Shimla assembly seat and was later shown the door. Himachal Pradesh Congress Committe president Kuldeep Singh Rathore said that organization could be run only by uniting people. He said that by putting aside past differences, time has come to take along all to achieve “Laskhya 2019” goal set by party.