Rebel Congress leader gets BJP ticket for SMC elections

Shimla, May 3 (UNI) A rebel Congress leader, denied ticket from ward no 17 (Sanjauli), was today named the BJP's candidate from another ward for the Shimla Municipal Corporation elections, hours after she resigned from the party.

Poonam Sharma, a loyal Congress activists for years, today resigned after she was overlooked as the party's candidate from ward no 17, party sources told UNI here.

She was later named the BJP's candidate from ward no 23 (Patiyog) against the Congress' official candidate.

Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) today named Kusum Lata Thakur as its candidate from ward no 23 in place of Kusum Chauhan, who has withdrawn from the contest, citing personal reasons.

In a letter to the HPCC President, she said due to family and personal problems she would not be in a position to contest the elections.

UNI