BJP apprehends rigging and violence by Cong in Hamirpur bypoll

Shimla, May 24 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh unit of the BJP today apprehended rigging and violence by the Congress during the Hamirpur Lok Sabha bypoll, saying the ''frustrated Congress'' will resort to all means to win the election.

Addressing a press conference here, party State President Jai Ram Thakur said following the state Congress government's lacklustre performance over the last four years, it would resort to rigging and violence on the polling day to prevent common people from voting against the government.

Expressing optimism that BJP's victory was a foregone conclusion, he said the party was only looking at the margin of the victory, which would be highest until now.

Referring to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's statement that former Chief Minister and BJP's candidate from Hamirpur constituency P K Dhumal should clarify whether he would resign from the seat and seek re-election from an assembly constituency, he said it was for the party to decide.

''It is for the party to decide whether he will resign or not from the parliamentary seat or contest assembly elections and noT the Congress,'' he said.

Mr Thakur advised the Chief Minister to focus his attention on his own party rather than seeking clarifications from other parties.

UNI