Congress ready to face Hamirpur LS bypoll: CM

Una, Apr 1 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said the Congress was ready for the bypoll to the Hamirpur Parliamentary seat and challenged the BJP to face the election.

Addressing a press conference at Una Mr Singh claimed that the Congress would win even if the BJP fielded ex-Chief Ministers Shanta Kumar or Prem Kumar Dhumal in the seat believed, to be an opposition stronghold.

He ruled our the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle and induction of Chief Parliamentary Secretaries in the state.

Mr Singh said that people of the state were aware of fact that the elections were necessitated because a former BJP MP had indulged in the cash for query scam.

Mr Singh blamed ''faulty policies'' of the previous NDA regime for the price rise adding that exporting rice, wheat and pulses during the NDA rule had raised the prices.

He also urged the UPA government at the Centre to take ''corrective measures.'' The Chief Minister said that Rs 100 crore had been provided in the current budget to streamline PDS system in State. He said Rs 150 crore subsidy on power will be provided to check domestic electic tarrif in the state.

State Congress Chief Viplove Thakur also attended the press conference and said that a series of state level rallies would be held every month in view of the coming elections for Muncipality Shimla and Hampirpur By-election in the state.

The first rally in this regard was being organised at Una on April 6, to be followed by series of rallies at Hamipur, Bilaspur, Kullu, Chamba, Mandi and Paonta Sahib in district Sirmour of Himachal.

The Congress chief said that the Una rally been named 'Jan Chetana Rally' as part of the 'Jan Sampark movement'.

An over three-hour-long General House of the party was also held at Mehatpur in Una today which was attended by Mr Singh and Ms Thakur along with 144 Congess members.

UNI