‘One family, one ticket’ rule eased for CM’s son, Champa
SHIMLA: The Congress high command on Sunday relaxed its ‘one family, one ticket’ rule — that it had strictly followed in the Punjab and Uttarakhand polls— to announce the name of chief minister Virbhadra Singh’s son Vikramaditya Singh as party candidate from Shimla Rural for the November 9 assembly elections in the state.
The party also named senior Congress leader Kaul Singh Thakur’s daughter Champa Thakur as nominee from Mandi.
The party had initially dithered over announcing the candidatures of Vikramaditya and Champa, but gave in to pressure at the last minute, sources said.
The final list was released after Congress screening committee members---J it end ra Singh, Vijay Inder Singla and Gaurav Go go i--AICC general secretary Sushil Kumar Shinde had detailed discussions with AICC president Son ia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi. Virbhadra Singh had earlier publicly declared that his son would contest from his seat (Shimla Rural). The chief minister, this time, is contesting from the Arki segment in Solan district.
The Congress had on October 18 announced its first list of 59 candidates. In the final list of candidates, the party has fielded Kewal Singh Pathania from Shah pu rand As hi sh But ail from Palampur, currently held by his father and outgoing speaker Brij Bihari Lal Butail, who did not want to contest this time.
From Kutlehar, Congress finalised former deputy Speaker Ramnath Sharma’s son Vivek Sharma as party nominee against BJP’s Virender Kanwar. From Manali, the party has fielded Harichand Sharma. In Kullu, the party is again relying on Sunder Singh Thakur to take on BJP heavyweight and sitting MLA Maheshwar Singh.
After octogenarian Vidya Stokes opted out, Rahul’s associate Deepak Rathore is party’s pick from Theog.The party has replaced its candidate from Anni. Paras Ram will contest the seat in place of Bansi Lal there.