Party Himachal list closes Sukh Ram option

The party has withheld the names of its candidates for only two constituencies, Theog and Nalagarh, for different reasons. State Congress president Vidya Stokes represents Theog and the BJP is looking for a stronger candidate against her. Sources disclosed that the BJP may woo back Rakesh Verma, who had left the BJP two months ago, to the party fold and field him against her. A prosperous contractor, Verma has considerable clout in the constituency.

As for Nalagarh, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal is said to be opposing renomination of Hari Narain Saini, a dissident but popular leader from the seat. Dhumal himself will contest from Bamsanhal.

Those dropped include deputy speaker of the dissolved assembly Ram Dass Malangar and former agriculture minister Vidya Sagar, Chandra Sen (Kullu), Shanta Kumar-loyalist Nirmala Devi (Pragpur) and Chet Ram Negi (Kinnaur). Two sitting MLAs, Karan Singh (Banjjar) and Narinder Bragata (Shimla), have shifted to Kullu and Jubbal-Kotkhai, respectively.

Gulab Singh Thakur, the outgoing speaker who played a crucial role in the installation of the Dhumal government and who defected from the Congress to the BJP just today, has been given a ticket from Jogendranagar.