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HP Votes
BJP releases list of 57 candidates for Phase 2
Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 22
The parliamentary board of the BJP today finally put its stamp of approval on the names of candidates for 57 constituencies after a four-hour-long meeting held in New Delhi and attended by the top brass of the party, including Rajnath Singh and L.K. Advani.

The parliamentary board of the party will meet again tomorrow to take a final decision on the candidates to be fielded from the remaining eight seats. A total of 15 aspirants from the reserved category and seven women have found place in the BJP list released.

The eight assembly segments from where a final decision on the candidates has been kept pending includes Shimla, Mandi, Karsog, Chintpurni, Rohru, Palampur, Bamsan and Nadaun. All 17 MLAs, including Dr Rajiv Bindal from Solan, have been given the ticket.

Interestingly, the party has still not taken a decision on Palampur, which is the home turf of Shanta Kumar. Similarly, decision on Bamsan seat, the home seat of P.K. Dhumal, has been kept pending. As such the party has still not given any indication if Shanta Kumar or Dhumal will contest the election.

Both Shanta and Dhumal are in the race for the top post of Chief Minister. The ticket of former minister, Praveen Sharma from Chintpurni has also been kept pending.