CPM releases first list of candidates for SMC

Shimla, Apr 28 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh unit of the CPM today released the first list of eight candidates for Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) elections, which are to be held on May 23.

Addressing a press conference here, party's Shimla district secretary Sanjay Chauhan said the party was contesting elections on its own in 15 wards, while it would be leaving 10 seats for the Lok Morcha, likely to be formed soon, and individuals.

He said since the successive state governments and municipal corporators had ignored the planned development of the town, the party would soon come out with an ''alternative, progressive and planned development model for the town''.

The plan would be detailed in the party's manifesto, which was likely to be released in a few days, he said.

Mr Chauhan said the Congress-ruled SMC had failed in ensuring regular drinking water supply, improve the condition of the roads of the town, besides snatching the democratic rights of the people of the Special Area Development Authority (SADA) of 10 years.

Referring to a number of cases of water borne diseases in the town during the last few months, he said the local body was to be held accountable for supplying contaminated water to the people,.

The CPM leader said the party would raise these issues along with regularisation of all dharas (huts) in the town, rising prices of essential commodities and oppose Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail and the new pension scheme.

Since FDI in retail had the potential to render several hundred thousand people jobless, the party has decided to oppose the policy tooth nail, he said.

Mr Chauhan said Sanjay Thakur would be the party's candidate from Bharari (Ward no one), Malvinder Kaur from Kaithu (Ward No three), Dhani Ram Kashyap from Summerhill (Ward No five), Tripta Gill from Krishna Nagar (Ward No 11), Kishori Dadwalia from the Mall Road (Ward No 13), Subhash Sharma from Chamyana (Ward No 19), Meera Sharma from Malyana (Ward No 20) and Daleep Kaisth from Chotta Shimla (Ward No 22).

UNI