I'm not contesting Hamirpur Lok Sabha bypolls, says Dhumal

Hamirpur, May 2 (UNI) Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister P K Dhumal today ruled himself out from contesting the Hamirpur Lok Sabha by-polls on June two and said the best candidate will be fielded to retain the seat.

''The party will announce the name of its candidate from the Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency by May 12,'' he said at a press conference here.

Mr Dhumal said that he was not in the race for the ticket and the best candidate would be fielded to win the Hamirpur seat, which has traditionally been one of the party's strongholds.

Replying to a question, he said there was no rift between the party leaders who were united to humble the Congress in the by-elections.

He said the party would raise the issues of corruption, un-employments, favoritism and regionalism in the elections and expose the Congress Government, which had failed on all fronts.

UNI