BJP's CEC to finalise candidates on Oct 22: Jain

Shimla, Oct 19 (UNI) The BJP today said its central election committee (CEC) meeting will be held at New Delhi on Monday to finalise the name of its candidates for the three tribal seats of Kinnuar, Lahaul Spiti and Bharmaur that go to the polls on November 14.

''The members of CEC will be meeting on Monday (October 22) to finalise the names of candidates for the three tribal seats,'' party incharge Satpal Jain told UNI over the telephone from Chandigarh.

The state election committee (SEC) had finalised the names of Tejwant Singh and Chet Ram from Kinnuar, Ram Lal Markanday from Lahaul Spiti and Tulsi Ram and Jia Lal from Bharmaur rpt Bharmaur.

Hours after the announcement of Mr Markanday's name from Lahaul Spiti four BJP leaders Mohan Lal Religpa, Sohan Singh, Champa Chhering and Rigjin Hairapa opposed Mr. Markanday's candidature, saying he had recently joined BJP for ''personal gains'' after resigning from HVC and Congress.

Mr Markanday was animal husbandry and public works state minister in the previous Prem Kumar Dhumal led BJP and Sukh Ram's Himachal Vikas Party (HVC) Government.

UNI