Dhumal dares CM to contest elections against him

Una, May 10 (UNI) Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister P K Dhumal today challenged Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to contest Lok Sabha by-polls against him from Hamirpur constituency.

Addressing mediapersons here after arriving from New Delhi where his candidature was decided by the party high command, he asked Mr Singh to give second thoughts on the party's candidate and contest elections against him.

''Let there be a direct contest so that the ruling party could get a feedback on the four years of the Congress Government's misrule,'' he said.

Mr Dhumal said, the Congress Government that had come to power on the promise of a clean government and providing employment to at least one member in every household in the state, had failed miserably in keeping its promise.

Referring to rising prices of essential commodities in the state, he said while the prices were sky rocketing beyond the reach of the common man, the government had failed to initiate any concreate steps.

Accusing the present state government for failing to protect the interests of the people, he said the right to set up hydel projects in the state had been snatched away by the UPA government.

In this era of decentralisation and devolution, the central government was taking over the powers from the states, he said.

The former chief minister said the tenure of the special industrial package to hill states had also been reduced by the Centre, causing huge financial losses to the state.

Lamenting at the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, he said the disappearance of a suitcase from the Chief Minister's office recently was a case in point.

Expressing confidence that the BJP would win the Hamirpur Lok Sabha by-polls, he said the people of the state were fed up with the present government and would vote it out.

UNI