Former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and Himachal Pradesh BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti are among the 68 party candidates for the state assembly elections scheduled for November 9.
The BJP list for assembly candidates also includes Anil Sharma, Congress veteran, Sukhram’s son, who quit his party recently and joined the BJP. Sukhram was involved in telecom scam and sentenced for a five year jail term.
Dhumal, a two-time chief minister, will contest from Sujanpur instead of Hamirpur, which he represents in the outgoing assembly.
Dhumal and Union minister J P Nadda are seen as two most likely choices for the post of chief minister if the saffron party comes back to power in the Congress-ruled state. The BJP has not named its chief ministerial candidate.
The result for the single phase polls in Himachal Pradesh would be announced on December 18 before which the Gujarat polls would also be held, according to the Election Commission.