Amid factional feud, Virbhadra asks BJP to announce its chief minister candidate
SHIMLA: The faction-ridden ruling Congress remains a divided house with chief minister Virbhadra Singh skipping a joint meeting with the state party chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday.
Speaking to mediapersons after the press conference ended at the government-run hotel, the chief minister said, “Government is doing its job and party its own. The aim remains one. It is not necessary that we are always seen embracing each other.”
The chief minister’s office had on Monday morning announced that Virbhadra would address a joint press conference with state party co in-charge Ranjeet Ranjan. While the Congress office called it a joint press conference, the chief minister arrived at the venue after the conference was over. “Media is trying to draw unnecessary inference from Virbhadra Singh’s absence. His absence has nothing to do with elections,” Ranjan said to a media query.
Chief minister Virbhadra Singh, however, denied differences in the party. He asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to announce its chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming elections. “The Congress has declared its leader for the next election. BJP should also declare the leader. People of the state should also know about it,” Virbhadra said.
The chief minister further added that winnability will be the sole criteria for ticket distribution in Himachal and development main poll plank. “Whosoever possesses the capability to win elections will be given preference,” he said, adding that the sitting legislators will also be recommended. Singh said his government has targeted 45 seats in the 68-member legislative assembly. “Our strategy for polls is ready, but we will not reveal it in the media,” he added.
‘SHAH SHOULD CLARIFY’ The CM, meanwhile, reiterated that he was implicated in cases registered against him. “BJP national president should clarify his position regarding the allegation of rapid increase in revenue of his son’s company,” he said.
Singh, who is upbeat after being named as the CM face, however, did not disclose his plans to contest election. “Barring the urban constituency, I can contest election from any other seat in the state,” he added, expressing hope that his government would repeat.