In the Chopal seat, the Congress had fielded its general secretary (organization) Rajnish Kimta, but is facing stiff competition from party rebel and former MLA Subhash Manglate who is contesting as an independent after the rejection of the ticket.
State Congress Chairman Pratibha Singh expelled Congress office holders from leading party members for the next six years with immediate effect for anti-party activities upon complaint by the Congress Committee of the Chopal Bloc.
Leaders expelled from the party include Dhirendra Singh Chauhan, Santosh Dogra, Kuldeep Aukta, Anish Dewan, Dinesh Rana, Dinesh Ghunta, Bina Potan, Ram Lal Nevali, Krishan Ranta, Mahesh Thakur Maddy, Basant Nevali, Hitendra Chauhan, Shyam Sharma, Nag Chand Tulliyan, Nag Chand Sharma, Sukh Ram Nagarik, Attar Rana, Akshay Bragta, Shurvir Rana, Hardik Bhandari, Virendra Dhanta, Mohar Singh Meghta, Surender Singh Manta, Het Ram Kainthla, Neeraj Sarkali, Naresh Dasta, Jitender Sharma, Rohit Ramta, Brij Mohan Chakar and Dinesh Sharma Pulbahal.
In the Chopal seat, Congress found itself on a sticky wicket after deciding to field Rajnish Kimta in place of former MLA Subhash Manglate who remained a member of Rahul Gandhi’s team and served as a party observer in two districts of the Uttrakhand during the assembly elections. After learning of the refusal of the ticket against him, Manglate had announced on social media that he was running from the seat of Chopal and is now launching a tough challenge to the official candidate of the Congress party.
