With battlelines drawn after announcement of tickets by both BJP and Congress, Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Friday sounded a warning to former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and his sons saying if they resort to mudslinging, he will hit back and more strongly.
“It’s time to get to the fields and campaign constructively but if Dhumals resort to mudslinging like they did earlier, then they should remember that Virbhadra Singh is not going to take things lying down and knows how to hit them and strongly,” said the Chief Minister, referring to corruption charges leveled against him in past six months by Dhumal and his two sons.
“Everyone knows and people of the State very well believe that the charges levelled against me were false and made with a political motive. All the charges were baseless and fabricated,” said Virbhadra Singh at his office in Shimla on Friday.
Commenting on the ticket distribution which was made according to his expectation, he said that it was the decision of high command and all the tickets were given as per the list of panels sent by the State unit of party.
Singh said that party will campaign aggressively at Hamirpur and would try to wrest the seat which has eluded it for long. “Party has decided to field independent legislator Rajendra Rana and I believe he is the best option available for the party on the seat,” said Chief Minister.
Asked why he favoured Rana over other party candidates, Singh said that Rana was the strongest candidate in the constituency and the decision was taken keeping all aspects in mind and his popularity. “Rana being an earlier associate of Dhumals is privy to many things and knows their weakness and strength plus he commands good support among people,” said the Chief Minister.
“I will not try to rake up corruption charges against Dhumals for which investigations are underway but nothing could be certain in poll battle,” said Singh adding that charges against Prem Kumar Dhumal and his sons are part of chargesheet submitted by the Congress party.
“In democracy there should be some mutual respect and fair play,” said Singh. He added that the main poll plank for the Congress party in the elections will be good work of UPA Government and one year tenure of State Government.
“I have never resorted political vendetta nor will ever do, irrespective of the fact what Prem Kumar Dhumal did in his two terms as Chief Minister of the State in which he fabricated false cases against me and I came out clean,” added the Chief Minister.