MC polls: Cong bats for Sood,Virbhadra’s nominee withdraws

Ahmed later said that the decision,to field Sood for the mayor post,was a unanimous one. Devinder Chauhan will be the party’s deputy mayor candidate. The Congress also cleared the names of all candidates who will be contesting from the 25 wards. The Congress list,however,is expected to make BJP’s task easy.

This is first time that elections to the post of mayor and deputy mayor are being held directly after the state government had amended the Shimla Municipal Corporation Act. More than 50 per cent of the seats – 13 out of 25 – have been reserved for women candidates.

Earlier,before the meeting,Harish Janartha – who was being seen as Union Minister Virbhadra Singh’s candidate for the Mayor’s post – surprised all by withdrawing his name and backing Madhu Sood.

The development is seen quite crucial in the Congress circles.