Himachal CM Sukhu, Agnihotri, Pratibha discuss potential candidates for Lok Sabha elections… read here the frontrunners
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TNR Desk
The Himachal Pradesh Congress has initiated the process of selection of candidate for the Lok Sabha elections. On Friday (March 15, 2024) evening, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri and Congress state president Pratibha Singh held discussions regarding potential candidates at the CM’s residence Oak Over in Shimla.
The meeting delved into the drawbacks of fielding MLAs and evaluated the electoral viability of alternative leaders. Several potential candidates were shortlisted and the names will now be presented at the proposed Congress central election committee meeting in New Delhi on March 18.
According to party sources, it is highly likely that sitting MP Pratibha Singh will contest from the Mandi parliamentary seat. However, finding a suitable candidate from Hamirpur, the home constituency of the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister, has posed a significant challenge for the party.
While the names of former minister Ramlal Thakur and Satpal Raizada are under discussion, other options are also being considered. The BJP has fielded Union Minister Anurag Thakur, who has won four consecutive terms from the seat.
The names of MLAs Vinod Sultanpuri for Shimla and Raghuvir Singh Bali for Kangra were also discussed, but the option was not pursued in view of the ongoing political turbulence in the state.
A disagreement has emerged from Kangra regarding the selection of candidates as the names of former minister Asha Kumari, youth leader Karan Singh Pathania, Major General DVS Rana (retd) were discussed. Consensus is nearing on proposing Amit Nanda, Sohan Lal and Kaushal Mungta for the Shimla seat to the high command.
The Congress has faced defeat in the Hamirpur seat in eight consecutive elections while experiencing losses in Shimla and Kangra for three consecutive elections. In 2021, the Congress emerged victorious in the byelection in Mandi.
