CPM declares list for 17 candidates for polls

The Himachal CPM on Wednesday declared a list of 17 candidates for the forthcoming Assembly polls in the state. While Deputy Mayor Tikender Singh Panwar will contest from Shimla, Rakesh Singha — party's state secretary — will fight the polls from Theog.

When contacted, Singha told The Indian Express: "Former IFS officer Kuldeep Tanwar has been named as the candidate for the Kasumpti Assembly seat, though Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) was insisting that the seat be left for them as part of the poll arrangement. We have problems in Kasumpti (Shimla) and Balh (Mandi) seats, but we will try to resolve it soon." Recently, the HLP had entered into a seat arrangement pact with the CPM to fight against the BJP and Congress.

The other candidates announced by CPM included Rajeev Thakur for Shimla (rural) and Anil Mankotia — a students' leader — from Hamirpur. Kaushal Bhardwaj, on the other hand, will contest from Jogindernagar in Mandi against sitting BJP MLA and PWD minister Gulab Singh Thakur.

Most crucial, however, will be the candidature of Singha, who will contest against Congress Legislature Party leader Vidya Stokes.

The BJP and Congress are yet to finalise its candidates for 68 Assembly seats.

ALSO READ

Punjab to re-open cases of fraud, to take action against govt officers

Dance Like a Man

Automatic poultry processing plant may soon see light of day

More trouble awaits Inspector Amanjot as his sources of income to be probed