Former BJP minister Ram Lal Markanda says discussions are underway with leaders across parties to launch a new political
June 28, 2026: A fresh political front may soon emerge in Himachal Pradesh as former BJP minister Ram Lal Markanda revealed that discussions are underway with leaders from different political parties. Expelled from the BJP in 2024 after contesting the Lahaul and Spiti by-election as an Independent, Markanda said senior leaders and workers from both the BJP and Congress feel sidelined and are looking for a credible alternative. He added that a new political party could be launched between March and April next year after consultations resume following the panchayat elections.
Markanda claimed the proposed party would focus on giving respect to experienced leaders and addressing public welfare issues. According to him, the new outfit would prioritise employment, development and making Himachal Pradesh economically self-reliant by generating additional revenue from sectors such as mining, forests, water resources, electricity and healthcare. While Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu downplayed the development, saying third fronts have emerged before and that the BJP remains divided into factions, Markanda accused both major parties of sidelining veteran leaders and replacing ideology with electoral calculations.
Himachal Pradesh has witnessed several attempts to establish a third political force in the past, but most eventually merged back with either the Congress or the BJP. Former Union minister Sukhram’s Himachal Vikas Congress, Maheshwar Singh’s Himachal Lokhit Party and Vijay Singh Mankotia’s Janata Dal experiment all failed to establish a lasting alternative. Markanda acknowledged these past failures and stressed that the new party would focus on selecting strong candidates and building its organisation well before the Assembly elections.