The Congress has announced names of party candidates to contest by-elections for Lahaul – Spiti and Badsar (Hamirpur) Assembly constituencies of Himachal Pradesh.
A party release from New Delhi has named Anurdha Rana for Lahaul- Spiti seat and Subhash Chand from Badsar Assembly constituency.
Banking on grass root party leaders the Congress leadership has nominated Zila Parishad chairperson Anuradha Rana to take on rebel Congress MLA Ravi Thakur, disqualified from HP Vidhan Sabha under anti-defection law and now contesting on BJP ticket. Anuradha Rana belongs to Sissu in Chandra valley of Lahaul – Spiti and is very active in Congress politics.
Similarly, the Congress has nominated former Zila Parishad member and Panchayat president Subhash Chand to take on rebel Congress MLA Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, also disqualified from HP Vidhan Sabha and contesting on BJP ticket.
Congress is yet to announce its candidate for Dharamshala Assembly constituency to fight against another rebel Sudhir Sharma, now BJP candidate.
The by-elections for six Assembly constituencies in Himachal Pradesh would be held along with parliament polls on June 1.