Daijiworld Media Network - Shimla

Shimla, May 24: The Bharatiya Janata Party in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday relieved 28 office-bearers from their organisational responsibilities for contesting the upcoming zila parishad elections against official party candidates.

The action was announced through an order issued by BJP state office secretary Pramod Thakur.

According to the party, the leaders had filed nominations as rebel candidates despite the BJP officially declaring its nominees for the elections.

“No individual can be above party discipline and organisational values. The BJP is a cadre-based ideological organisation where discipline and commitment are paramount,” Thakur said in a statement.

He termed contesting elections against authorised party candidates as a serious violation of party discipline and organisational ethics.

“The action has been taken to maintain organisational discipline and to send a clear message that party interests are supreme,” he added.

The gram panchayat elections in Himachal Pradesh will be held in three phases on May 26, 28 and 30.

Polling will be conducted for 31,182 posts, including 21,654 gram panchayat members, 3,754 pradhans, 3,754 up-pradhans, 1,679 panchayat samiti members and 251 zila parishad members.

Authorities said results for gram panchayat members, pradhans and up-pradhans would be declared on the day of polling, while results for panchayat samiti and zila parishad members would be announced on May 31.