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Journalism of Courage
SHIMLA, Nov 2: Former BJP MLA, Dulo Ram is the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate for Baijnath while Congress has decided to field Sudhir Sharma, son of veteran Congress leader the late Sant Ram.
Highly placed sources said Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and state BJP president Suresh Chandel have been conveyed high command8217;s decision to give ticket to Dulo Ram. Two have been authorised to chalk out broad poll strategy for the byelection with HVC supremo Sukh Ram. Sukh Ram last evening held a meeting with Dhumal after the HVC executive meeting.
Party decision to field Dulo Ram had ended over a month-long high drama within the BJP since a section of the BJP leadership had been doubting Dhumal8217;s intentions of favouring Indu Goswami, a new face. The Chief Minister claimed this evening that there was nothing wrong in evaluating the chances of several claimants but the 8220;best possible8221; has to get the ticket. He said party would announce the name of its candidate by tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Congress has ultimately decided to field Sudhir Sharma as Nirmala Devi, widow of the late Sant Ram had declined to accept the nomination for contesting the poll. Seat has fallen vacant after the death of Sant Ram, a former minister and then PCC president. Senior Congress leaders including former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and PCC president Sat Mahajan were reaching Baijnath tomorrow to accompany party candidate for filing his nomination papers.
