Congress party on Wednesday released the list of candidates for 59 seats for ensuing assembly polls and as was being expected Chief…
Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. (Photo: SNS)
Congress party on Wednesday released the list of candidates for 59 seats for ensuing assembly polls and as was being expected Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh would contest from Arki constituency in Solan district.
Earlier, there was speculation he may fight from Theog as Irrigation and Public Health minister Vidya Stokes has vacated the seat on his request. However, the Chief Minister decided to contest from Arki constituency as a survey reportedly conducted on his behest had suggested tough contest against BJP candidate.
BJP has fielded Rakesh Verma, the son of former top cop of Himachal Pradesh and chairman of HP Public Service Commission, R R Verma which Singh had close personal and family relations.
Though the initial list of candidates didn’t figure the name of Singh’s son Vikramaditya Singh for whome he had vacated his constituency, Shimla (Rural).
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Vikramaditya Singh was to start his political innings in Himachal Pradesh politics from his father’s constituency.
The list included many of the party’s known leaders and minsiters Kaul Singh Thakur, G S Bali, Mukesh Agnihotri, Sudhir Sharma, Prakash Chaudhary, Sujan Singh Pathania, Col Dhani Ram Shandil and Thakur Singh Bharmauri, Viplov Thakur, Gangu Ram Musafir, Asha Kumari and Chander Kumar.
The other leaders who have been given tickets and have also contested last elections include Ajay Mahajan, Kuldip Singh Pathania, Vinod Sultanpuri, Rajesh Dharmani, Harshvardhan Chauhan and Harbhajan Singh Bhajji.
The party has fielded Rajinder Rana against former BJP Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal in Sujanpur in Hmairpur district.
Earlier in the day, BJP had declared its full list of candidates for assembly polls scheduled to be held on 9 November. The process of filing nominations for the polls has already begun and the last date for filing nominations is October 23.
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