The dilemma over selecting 9 remaining candidates for the assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh continues in Congress as the party could not conclude the candidate selection process on Saturday.
As the impasse continues, the electoral fate of Vikramaditya Singh, son of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has also been hanging in fire. Virbhadra Singh had left his Shimla Rural seat as he wanted Vikramaditya to start his electoral career from the constituency represented by him for last 5 years.
Apart from Shimla Rural, Congress is yet to declare its candidates for Kutlehar, Mandi, Theog, Nalagarh, Kullu, Manali, Palampur and Shahpur constituencies. Party sources maintained that the matter has reached Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi. Himachal Pradesh Congress In-charge Sushil Kumar Shinde and Screening Committee Chairman Jitendra Singh met Rahul Gandhi on Saturday morning and discussed the probable names.
While the local party men are still silent on the announcement of list, the process of nomination has picked up pace in the state. On Saturdayonly, Ten candidates filed their nominations for Kasumpti, Rampur and Rohru reserve and Theog, Chopal, Jubbal Kotkhai, Shimla , Shimla Gramin constituencies. A number of rallies were witnessed at the nomination centres.
Incumbent Member of Assembly from Congress and scion of Koti Royal dynasty Anirudh Singh filed nomination at Deputy Commissioner Office at Shimla before the Returning officer and Rural SDM for the second time. Prem Singh Dharik, former IAS officers filed his papers from Rampur for BJP. Dharik has served as DC Kinnuar and MD HRTC. He had resigned from his job before joining politics. Similarly BSP candidates Suresh Saini filed his nomination paper from Rampur.
From Chopal assembly segment Congress candidates Subhash Manglate filed papers with much fan fare. His supporters also organised the traditional nati with drum beat when he reached the nomination centre. Former MlA Manglate had lost assembly elections in 2012. Sitting MlA, Mohan lal Bragta filed his nomination from Rohru as a candidate of Indian National Congress.
In Shimla town assembly seat Virender Kumar filed his nomination as Independent candidates and Sunder Singh Nanta also filed paper as Independent candidates from Jubbal-Kotkhai.
Rakesh Verma, former MlA from Theog assembly segment filed nomination on BJP ticket at SDM office, Theog in the presence of a large number of his supporters. Verma has suffered consecutive losses in the last two assembly elections.