Infighting gets infectious in HP after Congress list

Shimla, Nov 25 (UNI) Close on the heels of intense infighting within the BJP over the allotment of tickets, the release of the Congress list today caused consternation within the party with leaders opposing its decision on candidates in various parts of the state.

Former legislator and Mandi district president DD Thakur announced his decision to contest the assembly elections as an independent from Mandi constituency from where the Congress had already fielded former union minister Sukh Ram's son Anil Sharma.

He said if the party did not re-consider its decision by November 27, he would quit the party along with several hundred supporters and contest the elections as an independent.

Criticising the former union minister for promoting family by manipulating ticket for his son, Mr Thakur said he had neglected the constituency for 11 years after CBI raids at his houses in Mandi and Delhi in August 1996.

He also urged the Congress High Command not to forget that it had expelled him from the party for bringing shame on the party by indulging in corrupt practices.

In Arki assembly segment of Solan district, office bearers of Congress, Mahila Morcha, Youth Congress, Seva Dal and NSUI passed a resolution against the party's decision to replace sitting Congress legislator Dharam Pal Thakur with a newcomer in Prakash Chand Karad and tendered their resignations from the party.

The resignations have also been forwarded to All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Sonia Gandhi, HPCC president Viplove Thakur and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

Earlier, the Arki unit had held an emergency meeting of the activists and office bearers of frontal organisation against the party's decision.

Elsewhere in the state, former Youth Congress secretary Bambar Thakur had resigned from the party following reports that he had not been considered from Bilaspur Constituency from where it was re-nominating Tilak Raj Thakur.

The infighting within both the Congress and the BJP was likely to affect their chances at the hustlings with the BSP round the corner to take advantage in these assembly elections.

UNI