Shanta Kumar Rises Again
His Appeal for BJP Triumph Sparks Buzz Over Candidacy
Why the BJP Keeps Losing Palampur And Why Shanta Kumar’s New Statement Has Changed Everything
A History of Miscalculated Candidate Choices
For nearly a decade, the BJP’s struggles in Palampur have been rooted not in voter drift but in its own strategic missteps. Election after election, the central leadership bypassed credible, locally accepted contenders in favour of candidates seen as externally imposed. The 2017 decision to field Indu Goswami , overlooking strong Palampur faces sparked visible revolt within the ranks. Parveen Sharma, a key local figure and close aide of Shanta Kumar, was denied a ticket and retaliated by contesting as an independent. The pattern repeated in 2022 with the selection of Trilok Kapoor, solidifying the perception that the party high command was out of sync with local sentiment.
Demoralized Cadre and Factional Fissures
These choices fractured the BJP from within. Palampur became the epicentre of internal dissent—rebel candidates, disillusioned workers, and an uninspired campaign machinery. The cadre, long conditioned to discipline and ideological commitment, found itself operating without unity or enthusiasm. The election results reflected this malaise: narrow defeats caused not by a strong opposition surge but by the BJP’s own splintered vote share.
The Butail Factor: A Political Citadel
Layered atop BJP’s internal weaknesses is the formidable presence of the Butail family. With B.B.L. Butail’s legacy of five victories and his standing as one of Himachal’s wealthiest and most influential legislators, the family’s political reach has deep roots. This legacy has seamlessly transitioned to Ashish Butail, whose electoral wins and municipal performance reaffirm the family’s entrenched goodwill in Palampur. Their enduring rapport with voters gives the Congress a natural advantage one that the BJP has repeatedly failed to counter with equally strong, unified local leadership.
The Shanta Kumar Silence And What It Meant
Another decisive factor has been the conspicuous silence of Shanta Kumar, one of Himachal Pradesh’s most revered former chief ministers and a native of Palampur. Having been sidelined in ticket decisions, he distanced himself from campaigns, refraining from actively backing candidates he felt lacked local acceptance. His limited presence , sometimes restricted to a symbolic appearance was interpreted as tacit disapproval. In certain instances, he was seen signalling support toward independent candidates like Parveen Sharma rather than the official BJP nominee. His absence from the political frontline demoralized the cadre and added to the confusion among voters about the party’s internal unity.
A New Tone, A New Signal , Shanta Kumar Steps Back In
But the political climate shifted dramatically with Shanta Kumar’s latest public statement. In the clearest and most direct manner in years, he has signalled his return to the political arena. The BJP cadre in Palampur , long disheartened by unpopular candidates and factional drift is suddenly upbeat. His re-emergence has sparked expectations that this time, the party may field a new, deserving, and locally respected candidate.
After all, the record speaks for itself:
· Indu Goswami has lost.
· Trilok Kapoor has lost.
· Parveen Sharma revolted, contested as an independent, and also lost.
With each failed attempt, the central leadership’s decisions have come under sharper scrutiny.
Now, the crucial question electrifying Palampur’s political circles is simple:
Who is the candidate Shanta Kumar believes can finally reclaim the seat for the BJP?
As the veteran leader re-enters the conversation with renewed clarity, all eyes are on him and on what his next move will mean for the saffron party’s fortunes in this long-elusive constituency.
