Cong high command to take the final call

SHIMLA: A day after All India Congress Committee (AICC) sent its feedback for bypolls to Pachhad and Dharamshala segments, Congress’s state election committee members met in Shimla to deliberate on candidates and finally authorised the party high command to select nominees.

Majority of the members were of view that they should forward all ten applications received by the party headquarters in Shimla to the party high command.

Those who went into huddle in Shimla included state party chief Kuldeep Singh Rathore, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Mukesh Agnihotri, party senior leader and former Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Kaul Singh Thakur, Naina Devi legislator

Ram Lal Thakur, party vicepresident Harsh Mahajan, AICC secretary Rajesh Dharmai, Solan legislator Dhani Ram Shandil, party’s general secretary Rajnish Kimta, Mahila Congress chief Jenab Chandel and Sewa Dal chief Anurag Sharma.

After the meeting, the state party chief along with the CLP leader left for Delhi to meet central leaders.

Rathore said, “The final call will be taken by party high command. Congress is fully geared up for the polls. We discussed party’s strategy and current political situation in the state.” The Block Congress Committee Dharamshala has recommended the name of former urban development minister Sudhir Sharma, who has been active in Dharamshala since the bypolls were announced. Congress observer for Dharamshala Yogesh Sawhney has already submitted his observations to party high command. Lok Sabha member Kishan Kapoor had defeated Sharma in the 2017 assembly elections. The seat fell vacant after Kapoor, who was the food and civil supplies minister, was elected to Lok Sabha.

Kapoor had been keen to field his son Shashwat Kapoor in the Lok Sabha elections, but the party did not consider his demand. Sharma, who is also AICC secretary, is camping in Delhi and called on Central leaders while the candidature of former speaker Gangu Ram Musafir, is almost certain from Pachhad.