The rebels may queer the pitch for Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in half a dozen Assembly constituencies each in Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls slated for 9 November.
However, more than 100 candidates have withdrawn their nomination for polls finally, leaving 350 in all in the electoral battle in 68 Assembly segments in HP. Few former MLAs and former ministers from the two main parties have not paid heed to the party high ups and have finally stuck to their guns in the electoral field, following the denial of ticket.
While Congress faces strong rebellion in Shimla, Shahpur, Nalagarh, Rampur, Karsog and Darang. In Rampur, former minister and six-time MLA from Rampur, Singhi Ram poses a formidable challenge to the official Congress nominee Nand Lal, while in Shahpur, five-time MLA and former Congress minister, Vijay Singh Mankotia has made it tough for the Congress candidate, Kewal Singh Pathania.
In Shimla urban constituency, Harish Janartha, who lost the 2012 Assembly poll from BJP MLA, Suresh Bhardwaj with a margin of little over 600 votes, but was denied ticket this time, is the party rebel against Congress nominee, Harbhajan Singh Bhajji.
Three former MLAs of BJP have also thrown their hat in the ring after they were not given ticket by the party. Sitting MLA, BK Chauhan in Chamba and former MLAs, Praveen Sharma in Palampur (Kangra) and Hridya Ram in Renuka (Sirmaur) have increased the worries of BJP in the run up to polls.
Former Revenue minister from BJP, Rajan Sushant, who had earlier joined Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), is contesting as an independent this time in Fatehpur (Kangra) and may walk away with a chunk of BJP votes.
The BJP, although could do some damage control in Bhoranj (Hamirpur), Indora (Kangra) and Jhanduta (Bilaspur) by persuading the sitting MLAs, who were not given tickets, not to file nomination.
“We tried a lot to placate all the rebels, but some of them did not listen. Obviously, they will do some harm to the party,” state BJP Chief Satpal Singh Satti told The Statesman.
Congress general secretary, Naresh Chauhan echoed the same feeling.
It is pertinent to mention that as a trend, the rebels have been playing a significant role in HP elections and sometimes they even make or mar the chances of parties.
In 1998, a BJP rebel from Jwalamukhi (Kangra) had made it to the Assembly, with whose support the Congress, being a single largest party in tight number game with BJP, formed the government initially (although it fell short of simple majority).
After 13 days, the rebel shifted to the parent party BJP. While Congress failed to prove its majority on the floor of the House and later, along with Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) headed by former Union minister, Sukh Ram, which had got five seats then, the BJP formed the government.
In 2012 polls, five independents were elected, including three of BJP. In 1982, highest number of six independents were elected, who had helped Congress form government in HP.