Bali episode has sullied Congress' image: HPCC Chief

Dharamshala, Jul 30 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Viplove Thakur admitted that the Bali episode had sullied the party's image, saying the BJP's demand for early assembly elections was not just after the minister's resignation. ''Since Mr Bali has already resigned from his post, there is no question of the state government putting in its papers and going in for early assembly elections,'' she said at Palampur area of the district.

Referring to the BJP's demand for dissolution of the state assembly and holding of early elections, Ms Thakur said this was not just after the concerned minister had put in his papers.

''The incident involved one minister and he has tendered his resignation upholding the high tradition of the Congress party.'' Ms Thakur refrained from specifying whether the party would give the ticket to Mr Bali in the coming assembly election, saying ''it is too early to comment on this''.

UNI