Even as leaders of the State and ticket aspirants are keeping their finger crossed over the outcome of Central Election Committee meeting of Congress on Friday, Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh backed the candidature of Independent legislator Rajendra Rana from Hamirpur to take on BJYM President Anurag Thakur
State Congress has sent a panel of names to the central leadership for tickets and for BJP stronghold Hamirpur seat, Chief Minister has backed the candidature of Rajendra Rana despite State Congress chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu announcing that no ‘outsider’ will be given the tickets.
A section of senior leaders of the party are also against giving ticket to Rajendra Rana saying that he was one time protégé of former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and party should give tickets only to an organisation man.
Sukhu on Thursday claimed that there are several candidates from party for the Hamirpur seat and preference will be given to those who have been associated with Congress and who can win the seat for the party. “Final decision will be of Central Election Committee and let's wait for Friday, as the tickets for the State are likely to be announced,” he said.
Rana, an independent legislator from Sujanpur Assembly constituency of Hamirpur seat is an associate MlA of Congress. “I will favour whoever has winning ability. Rana is best option for the party. He cannot be ranked as an outsider as he is associate member of the party” said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh despite names of Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri MlA from Una doing the rounds from the seat. However, Agnihotri who is considered a staunch loyalist of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has conveyed his reluctance to the central leadership and Singh writing a letter to high command saying that he can't be spared from the State.
Refraining from commenting much on tickets, the Chief Minister said that it is for the central leadership to take a call. “let's wait and see the outcome of Central Election Committee meeting,” said Chief Minister but on the question of Kangra where he is favouring former MP Chander Kumar amid candidature claim from Union Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari for the seat, “both have same rashi (zodiac),” said a smiling Chief Minister.
Among the ticket probable for Congress on different seats include Chander Kumar and Chandresh Kumari from Kangra seat, Rajendra Rana and Mukesh Agnihotri from Hamirpur seat, Pratibha Singh from Mandi seat and Mohan lal Brakta and Vinod Sultanpuri from Shimla (reserve) seat.