M A I N   N E W S

Virbhadra men get all PCC posts
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 31 — The Virbhadra camp received a boost today when all six vacancies in the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) from among the legislature party were filled by its supporters to finally vote for the AICC President and the PCC chief next month.

These legislators would include the electoral college for electing the AICC President and the PCC chief.

According to the list released here today by the Permanent Secretary of the PCC, Mr A.N. Bazwaria, those elected from the CLP are Mr Ram Lal Thakur (Kot-Kehloor), Mr Raghu Raj (Kasauli), Mrs Asha Kumari (Banikhet), Mr Dharam Pal (Arki), Mr Kashmir Singh (Ghumarwin) and Mr Tek Chand (Nachan).

All these legislators are supporters of the former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh.

The Virbhadra camp was hopeful that the party high command might make some amendments in the disputed list of delegates which had been released by the Chairman of the Election Authority, Mr V. Hanumantha Rao.

The high command had reportedly appointed a five-member committee to dispose of nearly two dozen appeals which were not touched by the Election Authority before issuing the final list. These petitions were filed by supporters of Mr Virbhadra Singh who alleged that the election was rigged.

The AICC General Secretary, Mr Moti Lal Vora and Mr Oscar Fernandes and Mr Ahmed Patel are among the members of the review committee which had been asked to submit its report within a week.

Mr Virbhadra Singh, who was camping at Delhi, along with his supporters, was sidelined in the list of delegates which had been issued by Mr Rao.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said that the list of Mr Rao meant nothing as its copy was earlier released by Mr K.D. Sultanpuri, a member of the Election Authority, here on October 8, without the prior approval of the Central Election Authority headed by Mr Ram Niwas Mirdha.

Mr Jitendera Prasada, who is seeking election against Mrs Sonia Gandhi, for the post of AICC chief, is unlikely to cut much ice here as most of the delegates were rallying around the latter.