Shimla: Illness having hospitalised Madan Lal, the congress candidate for the Hamirpur seat, notwithstanding, the party on Thursday held out that he was the official candidate and would campaign as soon as the doctors declared him fit.
Congress spokesman Kuldeep Rathore at a media briefing said, “for now, Madan Lal is the official candidate for Hamirpur parliamentary seat.”
To a question whether the party had an alternative candidate should the former cricketer not recoup in time from the reported heart ailment that he suffered on Wednesday, Rathore said, “Lal has been advised rest by his doctors and he would start campaigning once he is declared fit. In case he remains unwell, the high command would take a decision at an appropriate time.”
Speaking about election code violations, he said that the party had complained about Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) announcing residential cricket academies at Una and Mandi.
“The announcements have been made to suit BJP, especially Hamirpur candidate Anurag Thakur who also happens to be president of HPCA,” he said. We have complained about it to the election commission, he added.
Taking umbrage to chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal statement that BJP prime ministerial candidate LK Advani having a cleaner image than Rajiv Gandhi who was tainted in the Bofors scam, the congress spokesman said,” did not behove a chief minister to drag names of people who were no more for petty politicking.
In answer to congress Jai Ho BJP coming up with a counter slogan of Bahay Ho only reflected their mentality, said the congressman.
Countering the ruling party’s argument that congress was a divided house Rathore cited the resignation of Malvikka Pathania as president Mahila Morcha of Kangra district and said that the case was otherwise.
With Dhumal taking up Advani’s issue about black money hoarded in Swiss banks, the congress spokesman dismissed it as a hoax to befool people in election time.
For five years as an opposition party or earlier as home minister in the NDA government, LK Advani has never raised this issue, he said. With no issues to solicit votes, BJP is trying to rake up those issues which it itself does not believe in, he added.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
