Harmohan Dhawan finally extends support to Kirron Kher

Chandigarh: Former MP and BJP leader Harmohan Dhawan, who had been opposing Kirron Kher's candidature from Chandigarh as he wanted the Lok Sabha seat for himself, Friday gave up his resistance and extended support to the actor.

Dhawan, who enjoys a considerable clout among weaker sections in the city, said, "the party (BJP) is like mother to me and in the interest of the nation and party and to help Narendra Modi become the Prime Minister, I have decided to support Kirron Kher."

Dhawan said this after a meeting with his supporters at his residence here.

He said it was not his habit to stab on the back though "he had been back stabbed" in the past.

On the question of his supporters opposing Kirron, he said, "they were angry as I was denied ticket."

"My supporters were confident that I will be the BJP's choice. My name was on top in the internal survey of the party, but due to unknown reasons I was denied the ticket at the last minute," he said.

"BJP national president Rajnath Singh and senior leader Arun Jaitley had spoken to me over phone. Our target is to ensure the defeat of Pawan Kumar Bansal (sitting Congress MP)," he said.

Reacting to Dhawan's support for her, Kirron said, "BJP is like a family and its members are working for a common cause. Dhawan has a big heart and he gave me his blessings."

"The wave of the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi can be felt everywhere in the nation. We will ensure victory from the Chandigarh parliamentary seat to support Modi become the Prime Minister," she said.

Tandon said anti-incumbency factor would derail the Congress rule in Chandigarh this time.

"There is resentment among people against Bansal and they are looking forward to a corruption-free system," he said.

Soon after Kirron was declared the party's candidate from here, she faced resistance from a section of disgruntled BJP workers. She was picked by the party after rejecting claims by local BJP chief Sanjay Tandon and twice former MP Satya Pal Jain.

Tandon and Jain have already declared their support to Kirron, but it was Dhawan who took a stand against her.

Kirron yesterday went to Dhawan's residence to placate him.