13 seek Congress tickets to contest first phase of elections

Shimla, Oct 19 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) has received 13 applications in all for three tribal seats of Kinnuar, Bharmaur and Lahaul Spiti, which go to the polls on the first phase on November 14.

''The party's state committee has received 13 applications from candidates seeking Congress ticket for contesting elections. Of these, three are from Kinnuar, two from Bharmaur and eight from Lahaul Spiti,'' party secretary Kuldeep Singh Rathore told UNI here.

He said today was the last date for receiving applications from candidates willing to contest elections from the three tribal assembly seats.

The applications also includes the names of sitting party legislators from the tribal seats, he said.

Mr Rathore said the list of the candidates would be forwarded to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) for discussions and consideration and would be announced in due course.

He, however, refused comment as to when the AICC was likely to announce the name of party candidates for the tribal seats.

Meanwhile, party sources told UNI here that all the three sitting party legislators Raghubir Singh from Lahaul Spiti, Jagat Singh Negi from Kinnuar and Thakur Singh Bharmaur from Bharmaur were likely to be the party's candidate for the three tribal seats.

UNI