Cong’s Shandil files nomination amid show of strength

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 23

Congress candidate from Shimla Lok Sabha seat Col Dhani Ram Shandil today filed his nomination in the presence of senior Congress leaders, including Anand Sharma, Virbhadra Singh, Rajni Patil and Kuldeep Rathore.

It was a virtual show of strength and unity by the Congress as Col Dhani Ram Shandil (retd), sitting MLA from Solan, filed his candidature as the Congress nominee for the Shimla (reserved) Lok Sabha seat. All the senior leaders accompanied Shandil to the Deputy Commissioners office as he filed his nomination. Amit Nanda filed his nomination as a covering candidate for the Congress.

The 78-year-old retired Army Colonel took to politics when he joined Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC), the political outfit floated by former Telecommunication Minister Sukh Ram in 1999. Despite a late starter, he won two Lok Sabha elections, once on the HVC ticket in 1999 and later as a Congress nominee in 2004. He has also won two consecutive elections in 2012 and 2017 from Solan assembly constituency. He remained Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment in the Virbhadra regime from 2012 to 2017.

Having fought in the 1961, 1965 and 1971 wars while being in the Dogra regiment, he is hoping to encash on the patriotic fervor in the backdrop of Pulwama attack and surgical strikes.

Speaking on the occasion AICC In-charge Rajni Patil said the derogatory and abusive language being used by BJP leaders was a clear indication of the fact that BJP was frustrated and could sense the ground slipping under their feet.

“As is always the case, the BJP is once again trying to shift focus from issues to non-issues as it has no explanation for its failed promises on job creation, waiving of farmers loans and bringing back black money”, Patil said.

State Congress president Kuldeep Rathore said the Congress was fully united and geared up to take on the BJP. He said Congress will register win in all the four Lok Sabha seats.

Former Union Minister Anand Sharma specially flew in yesterday to be able to ensure his presence at the filing of nomination by Shandil. The Congress leaders, including Sharma, Virbhadra and CLP leader Mukesh Agnihotri, said the party was fully geared up and united to take on the BJP. Former minister Vidya Stokes was also present.