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Congress retains most incumbents

SHIMLA: With a few exceptions, the Congress has retained a majority of its Ministers and sitting legislators for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections.

The notable exclusion in the final list is Food and Civil Supplies Minister Singhi Ram (Rampur constituency), a close confidant of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. A retired police officer Nand Lal has been preferred to Mr. Ram.

A newcomer Prakash Chand Karad has been nominated for the Arki constituency in Solan in place of Deputy Speaker Dharam Pal.

With Animal Husbandry Minister Harsh Mahajan (Chamba) opting out of the elections, Pawan Nayyar has been given the Chamba seat. Ajay Mahajan has been given Nurpur in place of his father Sat Mahajan, Revenue Minister in the outgoing government.

All the remaining Ministers, including the controversial Transport Minister, G.S. Bali, have been retained from their constituencies.

Four out of five MLAs, who won last time as independents and later became associate members of the Congress were also given the ticket despite strong opposition from certain quarters. The only exception is Rakesh Verma from Theog, who is considered close to the Chief Minister but vehemently opposed by the Pradesh Congress Committee. Rajender Verma, a close confidant of Vidya Stokes is the candidate from Theog.

The CPI released a list of eight candidates. Surprisingly it has also given names for the Chachiot and Arki constituencies, for which its alliance partner CPI(M) has also announced the candidates. The CPI central leadership may intervene and settle the dispute, said sources involved in talks.

The Lok Janshakti Party, which has a lone MLA in the present Assembly, has released a first list of 15 candidates after its talks with the Congress failed. Party’s State president Sadanand Chauhan will fight from Nahan in Sirmaur district.

Senior BJP leader and former Minister Rup Dass Kashyap has resigned from the party. He is contesting as an independent from Kusumpati.

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