Patil takes feedback about Mandi Lok Sabha candidate

Tribune News Service

Mandi, November 19

Rajni Patil, Congress in charge of Himachal state, has urged party workers to work hard for victory of party candidates in Himachal Pradesh for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. She was here to attend a meeting of party workers to take feedback about prospective Congress candidate from Mandi parliamentary constituency.

After former Chief Minister and Congress stalwart Virbhadra Singh yesterday expressed his unwillingness to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Mandi parliamentary constituency, the Congress is in a dilemma to find another suitable candidate to contest the elections.

Talking to reporters here Patil said that the meeting of workers was held to take feedback about the prospective candidate from Mandi for the Lok Sabha election. Party high Command would be apprised about it.

She said that a survey would be conducted to select suitable candidates for the Lok Sabha election from Himachal Pradesh. Party workers were asked to highlight the failure of Central and state government led by BJP.

In reply to a query, she said, “Former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and senior Congress leader Vidya stokes had been invited to the meeting but they could not join it. I will talk to them personally and there is no question of factionalism.”

Media was not allowed to cover the entire programme but party source told The Tribune that factionalism was seen during the meeting. The party leaders were seen targeting each other over several issues.

Patil said that the election results of five states would prove a game changer for the Congress. The BJP had deceived the people of the nation by making false promises. The inflation had gone up manifold, adversely affecting the lives of common people. The prices of essential commodities were increasing. She alleged that the demonetization was a big scam. Apart from this, Rafale deal was another scam of the Central government. The Congress would target the BJP over inflation and corruption issues.

Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu also addressed the party workers and asked them to work hard to ensure party’s win. Congress leader and former industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, former Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur, former Excise and Taxation Minister Prakash Chaudhari, former minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri and other leaders across state were also present.