Himachal Pradesh: Doctors quit jobs to fight elections

Shimla: Eyeing the upcoming elections in Himachal Pradesh which are a few months away, around three doctors have already decided to fight from their home constituency. 

Around 12 MBBS doctors won in the Punjab Assembly elections earlier this year. Out of the 12 doctors, nine are from AAP and one each from the Akali Dal, Congress, and Bahujan Samaj Party. For the elections in Himachal Pradesh, two senior doctors have put in their papers, whereas another doctor is deciding to quit to fight elections from their home constituencies.

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Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that Dr. Janak Raj, neurosurgery professor, and Senior Medical Superintendent at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Shimla, had resigned on August 16, and his native place is Bharmour (Chamba). His social media account shows pictures of his daily interaction with the people there. 

Similarly, Dr. Lokinder Sharma, an orthopedic surgeon who was earlier posted at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital in Shimla, is trying to fight from Theog (Shimla). In 2017, he had tried for a BJP ticket but had remained unsuccessful. Another senior doctor, Dr. Lalit Chander Kant, who is posted at the Cancer Hospital in Shimla might resign and try for a ticket from his native place, Nachan (Mandi), reports the Tribune India. 

Currently, in the Vidhan Sabha, there are two ayurvedic (BAMS) doctors, both from the BJP: Health Minister Dr. Rajiv Saizal (Kasauli MLA) and former Speaker Dr. Rajeev Bindal. 

In addition to doctors, there are various retired bureaucrats and police officers who are eyeing the poll ticket from the BJP, Congress, and AAP in the state. Some of the officers who are eyeing the poll ticket include former Director General of Police ID Bhandari, retired IAS officer JC Sharma, and Vikas Dhiman, who is a 2012-batch Himachal Police Service officer. 

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