Anil Sharma, Himachal Pradesh Power Minister resigned from the BJP government yesterday after his father, former Union minister and chief minister, Sukh Ram, and his son, Aashray Sharma, quit the saffron party and joined the Congress last month. Congress has fielded Aashray Sharma from the Mandi Lok Sabha constituency on its ticket.
The BJP has asked Anil Sharma to campaign for Ram Swaroop Sharma, his party candidate from Mandi. Ram Swaroop Sharma is fighting against his son, Ashray Sharma.
In response to the BJP’s request, Anil Sharma refused to campaign for the BJP and said that he is willing to quit the ministry.
Anil Sharma said that the Chief Minister said in an assembly segment in a meeting held in Mandi that he was lost somewhere and if anyone has knowledge about his whereabouts, then they should let him know. Anil Sharma expressed his deep resentment saying that the sarcastic comments from the CM of the state, that he has lost his faith in him is the reason for his resignation from the party.
Anil Sharma said after submitting his resignation to the Chief minister’s Jai Ram Thakur’s office that “If the Chief Minister loses his faith in a minister, the minister is left with only two options: either the Chief Minister should expel him from the ministry or the minister should resign by himself. So, I thought it will be better to resign from the ministry.” He clarified his ties with BJP shall remain intact even after his resignation.
Anil Sharma had joined BJP in 2017 and left Congress days before the assembly polls. Anil Sharma alleged the party to ignore him and his father keeping them sidelined and deliberately neglected, and hence he joined BJP. He alleged that he was sent back by Rahul Gandhi when he came to attend a rally in Mandi.
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