Dharamshala byelection: Himachal Pradesh Congress dissolves block units after humiliation

DHARAMSHALA: Following a humiliating defeat in Dharamshala byelections, where its candidate lost his security deposit, the Congress on Friday dissolved its block units in the constituency and removed Rajesh Kapoor from the block president’s post for allegedly working against the party.
State Congress chief Kuldeep Rathore said it was decided in a meeting to dissolve the block units of Congress and Youth Congress.“We have also written to the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) about the negative role played by a few senior leaders of the party.”
Rajesh Kapoor was a known supporter of former minister Sudhir Sharma, who was a strong contender for a ticket from the constituency. Most of leaders in the block-level Congress were also from Sudhir camp.
Congress candidate Vijay Inder Karan had blamed the former minister for working against the party.
Congress leaders, on the condition of anonymity, said a complaint has been forwarded to the party high command in Delhi.
Sudhir and his supporters refused to comment on the development.
Congress candidate had secured only 8,212 votes out of 52,939 votes polled. Vijay Inder Karan got only 15.64% votes whereas he needed 16.67% (one-sixth) of total valid votes to save his deposit.