The action came late on Saturday, when state BJP president Rajeev approved their expulsion based on the recommendations of the party’s disciplinary committee and complaints received from district and block units.
Among those expelled are former Dharamsala mayor Onkar Nehria from Ward No. 2, former deputy mayor Tajinder Kaur from Ward No. 6, Dharamsala Urban Block president Saroj Guleria from Ward No. 8, former booth president Nitul Shukla from Ward No. 14, and Mahila Morcha Urban Block secretary Himanshi Aggarwal from Ward No. 1. All five leaders had entered the electoral fray as rebel candidates after reportedly being denied BJP tickets.
The expulsions underline the deep internal rift brewing within the BJP ahead of the MC elections, which are being viewed as a crucial political contest for the party in one of Himachal Pradesh’s most prominent urban centres. The rebellion has emerged as a major challenge for the BJP leadership, as several disgruntled aspirants with strong grassroots support and organisational influence have chosen to contest independently.
Responding to the action, former mayor Nehria indicated growing ideological differences with the party leadership. “I had been associated with the BJP for years, but after a person with a different ideology joined the party, the BJP has now become similar to the Congress. The people of Bhagsu will decide whether they will support the party or not,” Nehria said.
Meanwhile, Kaur also expressed resentment over the party’s decision, saying she remained a committed BJP worker despite being sidelined. “I have always been a loyal soldier of the BJP. I never left the party, but in the last few years I have been ignored and treated differently,” she remarked.
Political observers believe the presence of rebel BJP candidates could significantly damage the party’s prospects in several wards by dividing its traditional vote bank. In many constituencies, the contests are no longer direct BJP-versus-Congress battles, with rebels emerging as decisive players capable of upsetting official party nominees. Their entry has effectively converted several Wards into triangular contests, complicating the BJP’s electoral calculations.
The dissent within the BJP comes at a politically sensitive time, with the party already facing criticism from opposition leaders over civic issues, alleged poor planning under the Smart City project, and infrastructure-related concerns in Dharamsala. Congress leaders have seized upon the internal rebellion to intensify attacks on the BJP, describing the party as a “divided house” struggling with infighting and dissatisfaction among its own cadre.
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