Virbhadra ready to fight from Mandi

Mandi, Sep 21 (UNI) Former Himachal PradeshChief Minister Virbhadra Singh said here today that he would contest from the Mandi Parliamentary constituency in the forthcoming elections if the Congress High Command directed him to do so.

He said, however, he would not apply for the ticket because he was already a sitting MLA.

Replying to a question at a press conference in the Circuit House, Mr Singh said Mandi had been his political battlefield for decades and if the High Command desired to field him, he would fight and win.

He accused Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal of giving ''step-motherly'' treatment to Mandi district, in particular, and constituencies of opposition MLAs in general.

Referring to the issue of Government Medical College at Mandi, Mr Singh said the Congress government had sanctioned and notified such a college at Mandi.

''But Mr Dhumal, who had also made poll promises to open government college here, however, reversed his stand after winning and said private medical college would be opened,'' Mr. Singh said.

This had agitated the local people so much that they had formed a joint front of all parties, excluding the BJP, to press for opening a Government Medical College, he said.

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