Himachal Speaker Resigns, BJP President

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Rajeev Bindal resigned on Thursday amid reports that he will be the new chief of the BJP’s state unit. Bindal submitted his resignation to Deputy Speaker Hans Raj, a day ahead of the filing of nominations for election to the Himachal BJP president’s post. They said there is unanimity in the state unit on Bindal’s appointment. BJP state vice president Ram Swaroop Sharma said nominations for the president’s post can be filed within a 24-hour period. Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh  Pokhriyal and BJP’s national secretary Sunil Deodhar will come to the state as observers for the election.