National BJP vice-president Shanta Kumar has asked party rebels to retire from the contest otherwise they will be expelled from the party for forever.

Shanta said he, along with other senior leaders, had repeatedly urged the rebels to withdraw from the contest. He said that the BJP has prepared a list of about 15 rebels who are giving a tough time to the party nominees in various parts of the state. However, the problem is maximum in the two biggest districts of Kangra and Mandi.

He admitted that prior to ticket allotment both he and Dhumal could have had a difference of opinion in fielding candidates, but now every candidate was BJP candidate for whom he would campaign. He lamented that everyone had become so ambitious that on the denial of ticket they forgot about loyalty towards the party.

Shanta hoping to return to power and owing to the performance in the past five years. However, few months’ back Shanta Kumar had leveled serious corruption charges against his own party man and even had demanded resignation of two of minister from cabinet.