As Ravinder Singh Ravi is getting strong opposition from party senior leader Ramesh Dhawala for Jawalamukhi segment, his hometown is giving him solace as key party members has asked party high-command to field Ravi from Palampur.

BJP Palampur Block Development Committee Chairman Sanjiv Rana, in a press conference at Palampur appealed to BJP president Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal to consider Irrigation and Public Health Minister Ravinder Singh Ravi as candidate from Palampur.

Sanjiv Rana said Ravi was a resident of Palampur for the last 30 years and claimed that fielding him would be in the interests of the party. Rana said the BJP should reconsider the ticket allotment to ‘weak’ candidates, particularly in Kangra district. He said Ravi was on top in two surveys, but was denied the party ticket at the last moment.

Parveen Sharma, MLA from Palampur, who was given the BJP ticket, reacted strongly to the demand. He told mediapersons in Gopalpur that he was selected by the high command after studying all aspects. He added that the local BJP mandal had recommended him. Shanta Kumar, Prem Kumar Dhumal and Kalraj Mishra were members of the committee which approved his name, he pointed out. Sharma claimed that a political conspiracy was being hatched against him, but the people of Palampur would give a befitting reply.