Himachal Pradesh polls: Virbhadra Singh files nomination, calls for Sukhu’s ouster again

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh files nomination papers from Arki constituency in Solan district Friday. (Photo: Pradeep Kumar)

On the day he filed his nomination from Arki, ending suspense over his choice for a new Assembly constituency, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Friday once again demanded replacement of PCC president Sukhwinder Sukhu. “Ordinarily, PCC president should not contest the polls himself so that he can look after the election affairs of the party in the state. But now since he (Sukhu) is also contesting the election, someone should replace him to devote full time on party,” the CM said after filing his nomination papers from Arki (Solan).

Virbhadra also announced that minister Vidya Stokes, who had offered her Assembly constituency of Theog to him, will be contesting the seat. His son Vikramaditya Singh will be Congress candidate from Shimla (Rural), his own constituency in 2012. “The decision on the remaining seats will be taken shortly. Stokes is very much in the race and she will be contesting the polls,” he said.

On his decision to shift to Arki instead of Theog, the CM said it was the other way around. “My first choice had always been Arki. It’s also because the party had not won this seat for successive elections. Theog was the second choice. Now, madam Stokes will contest from there,” he said. The CM said by and large he was satisfied with the distribution of the ticket.

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READ | Himachal Pradesh polls: In Arki, CM Virbhadra Singh eyes a huge margin

Virbhadra, who has been declared by Congress as its CM face, said it did not matter to him whether the BJP fought the polls projecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s face or named a chief ministerial face. Indicting his poll agenda, the Chief Minister said, “There is the issue of GST and domonetisation. Despite demonetisation having been done months back, its impact is still there. Same was GST. Both will be bigger issues in the polls as they have hit the common man.”