HLP to contest alone, leaders not to rejoin BJP

Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP), floated by BJP dissidents, will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on its own after its plans of "merger with AAP or rejoining the BJP" were ruled out.
HLP chief Maheshwar Singh categorically stated that he had no intentions to return to BJP as the issues of corruption raised by HLP at the time of parting ways with BJP had not been addressed and there was no change in the situation.
The HLP leaders, who assembled here at the state level convention to mark the foundation day of the party, were of the view that senior party leaders should contest the Lok Sabha polls alone as the "merger with AAP or rejoining the BJP are closed options".

Party General Secretary Khusi Ram Balnatah also maintained that they were not expelled from BJP but had taken a conscious decision to quit the party over core issues, including corruption, and there was no reason for rejoining the BJP when the concerns raised by them remain unaddressed.
BJP had yesterday readmitted rebel leaders and invited Maheshwar to rejoin the party and offered him ticket from Mandi parliamentary seat.
While Maheshwar was non-committal on contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Mandi, the overwhelming view of HLP was that he should contest the polls as it would encourage other senior leaders also to join the fray, party sources said.

Maheshwar said the Congress government in the state failed to address important issues like monkey menace, stray cattle, and increase in power bills, and said, the HLP would resort to agitation if nothing was done to resolve these issues.
Attacking BJP, he said that it was strange that the party, which had appointed the Lokayukta in the state during its rule previously, was wary of going to it to file a complaint of corruption against Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.