Ram Lal Thakur Congress' candidate from Hamirpur seat

Shimla, May 8 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) today announced state Forest Minister Ram Lal Thakur its candidate for the Hamirpur Lok Sabha by-polls that are to be held on June two.

Party spokesman Kuldeep Singh Rathore told UNI here that Mr Thakur would be the party's candidate from Hamirpur constituency, which is spread over 17 assembly segments in Bilaspur, Una, Hamirpur and Kangra districts of the state.

Unlike the BJP, which was still trying to convince its senior leaders to contest the elections, the party has announced its candidate unanimously, he said.

Expressing confidence that the party would win the elections this time, he said Mr Thakur, who had lost the last elections narrowly to BJP's Suresh Chandel, would emerge successful as the people has seen the ''real face'' of the BJP.

He said the political situation in the state was different this year as compared to last time when Lok Sabha elections were held.

''Elections to the Hamirpur seat are being held in the back drop of several of the BJP MPs being found guilty in different scams.'' The Hamirpur polls were being held after the BJP's sitting MP was suspended from the Parliament following his involvement in the cash for query scam, he added.

UNI