M A I N   N E W S

Consensus on Pratibha’s name for Mandi LS seat
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 17
Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh’s wife and sitting Lok Sabha MP from Mandi Pratibha Singh is almost certain to be the party’s candidate from Mandi segment in the forthcoming Lok Sabha poll. A consensus on Pratibha was reached at a meeting of the Congress Election Committee (CEC) headed by party president Sonia Gandhi.

Although the party did not formally release the names today, information available with The Tribune is that from Hamirpur segment former BJP leader-turned-rebel Rajinder Rana is the front-runner for the ticket. He stands a higher chance of nomination as the Congress’ official candidate from Hamirpur (against BJP’s Anurag Thakur) as against Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, who is learnt to have expressed his unwillingness to contest.

Sources said the name of Himachal Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri was also discussed for the Hamirpur seat but the CM is learnt to have reiterated his stand that Agnihotri cannot be spared.

From Kangra LS segments, the names of Union Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari and an OBC leader are being mentioned. Congress may like to pit Chandresh against BJP’s Shanta Kumar in Kangra considering Chandresh Kumari has a standing. “She may hail from Rajasthan royal family but has been married in Himachal and is acceptable there,” a Congress source said. Also in contention from Kangra for the Congress ticket is former MP and OBC leader Chander Kumar. While the candidature of Chandresh Kumari has been vehemently opposed by the CM, Chander enjoys his backing.

From the Shimla segment, Rohru MLA Mohan Lal Bragta is the front-runner. His name was discussed today along with that of Vinod Sultanpuri, the son of former MP KD Sultanpuri. Vinod lost the last Assembly polls from Kasauli by a narrow margin.

No discussion on Punjab, Haryana

The CEC on Monday discussed candidates for 96 LS seats in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, North East, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh but did not take a final decision. Punjab, Haryana LS list was not discussed as the screening process is still on.