Virbhadra ready to fight from Mandi, if High Command directs him

Mandi, Sep 21 (UNI) Former Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said here today that he would contest from 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 press conference in the Circuit House Mr Singh said Mandi had been his political battle field for decades and if the High Command desired to field him he would fight and win.

He also 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 government medical college at Mandi.

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

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

UNI XC JN BK1731