HP CM Virbhadra Singh likely to contest Assembly election from Arki constituency

Shimla, Sept 27: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh is likely to contest the coming Assembly elections as Congress candidate from Arki constituency in the Solan district. Though the party is yet to announce his candidature, Mr Singh had made it clear on several occasions at party meetings that he is likely to be the Congress candidate from Arki this time. Virbhadra's son Vikramditya, a novice in politics, is likely to contest from Rural Shimla Assembly seat. Born in a royal family in Shimla district, Virbhadra Singh is an agriculturist and horticulturist by profession apart from a seasoned politician. He was elected to Lok Sabha in 1962, reelected to LS in 1967, 1972 and 1980 and 2009 from Mandi parliamentary segment. He had been Union ministers for Steel, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Tourism and Civil Aviation, and Industries. He has been MLA for eight times from Jubbal-Kotkhai, Rohru, and Rural Shimla.He has been Chief Minister from April 1983 to March 1990, and December 1993 to March 1998, from March 6 2003 to April 2007, and from Dec 23 2012 to 2017. He was also leader of Opposition in the Himachal Pradesh assembly from March 1998 to March 2003.Mr Singh is permanent resident of Padam Palace, Rampur in Shimla District. Mr.Singh and his green horn son are likely to have tough competition as BJP bagged more votes in both assembly segment - Rural Shimla and Arki during last Lok Sabha elections. However, Congress did not declare Mr. Singh as party's chief ministerial candidate and stated that party would decide about it after elections. Party's state incharge Susheel Kumar Shinde has announced on several occasions that party would announce its chief ministerial candidate after it secures sufficient seats in the assembly elections. Mr.Singh had earlier made several statements that he would not contest the coming assembly elections due to differences with state party chief but later took U turn and said he was ready to contest from Arki or any other assembly segment. Mr. Singh is also facing CBI and ED cases related to the disproportionate assets and money laundering but he was not arrested in any of them. Congress has convened a meeting between Mr. Singh and party state president Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu at 10, Janpath on September 28 to resolve differences between them. UNI