Congress prepares strategy for Hamirpur bypolls

Shimla, Apr 20 (UNI) The Congress today decided to hold meetings of its district office bearers and block presidents besides other important party leaders from April 23 to 26 as part of its strategy for the coming Hamirpur parliamentary bypolls on May 22.

''The party will hold a meeting at Bilaspur on April 23, Hamirpur on April 24, Una at April 25 and Dehra block at April 26 to galvanise the party for the coming bypolls,'' Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Viplove Thakur said here.

She said all office bearers of the HPCC would remain present in these meetings and said the party would finalise its strategy for the Hamirpur parliamentary seat, which had fallen vacant following resignation by Prem Kumar Dhumal who has taken over as the state's Chief Minister.

The party leader also expressed its resentment with the state government for its decision to hike the bus fares by 25 per cent, besides its attempts to destroy the public distribution system (PDS) in the state.

Terming the BJP Government's first 100 days as unsuccessful, they said the government has been a failure in containing in the prices of the essential commodities and in hiking the bus fares by 25 per cent.

''The party is taking Hamirpur bypoll very seriously and this will provide an opportunity to the party to expose the government's unpopular decisions,'' she added.

Presidents of three districts, presidents of block Congress, leaders of frontal organisations and party candidates who fought assembly and parliamentary elections from the constituency were also present in today's meeting.

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