In Gagret, Kutlehar, Rakesh Kalia and Vivek Sharma launch their electoral campaigns
Rakesh Kalia and Vivek Sharma officially commenced their election campaigns yesterday from the Gagret and Kutlehar sectors after the Congress’ announcement of candidates for the two Assembly by-elections in the Una district.
Rakesh Kalia, who was once elected from Gagret and twice served as the MLA for the Chintpurni seat, had previously joined the BJP in 2022 after being turned down for a Congress ticket. He is up against Congress dissident Chaitanya Sharma of the BJP.
In the 2017 Kutlehar Assembly elections, Vivek Sharma ran but was defeated by BJP candidate Virender Kanwar. On a single name resolution, the Himachal Pradesh Congress supported Vivek Sharma’s candidacy for the by-election ticket.
at order to launch his campaign, Vivek planned an automobile rally that started at Bangana, the sub divisional headquarters, and ended in Kotla Kalan hamlet, which is located outside of Una city. Hundreds of supporters and party employees showed up for the event, yelling chants supporting the Congress party and the candidate.
Speaking at a public gathering in Bangana, Vivek Sharma urged the populace to reject individuals who switch allegiances and undermine the democratic system. He said that while the BJP attempted to topple the government, the people should support the Congress, as it was elected by the state’s citizens. He faces up against BJP member and Congress dissident Devinder Bhutto.
When Rajiv Shukla, the state Congress in-charge, was refused a Congress ticket in 2022, Rajesh Kalia attacked him, claiming that Shukla was uninformed and confused at the time. A few days before, he had rejoined the Congress party in Rajiv Shukla’s New Delhi headquarters. He would have rather organized gatherings at the ward level to launch his campaign.
