Shimla: Accompanied by senior party leaders which include, leader of the opposition Vidya Stokes, former chief minister Virbhadra Singh and minister of state for foreign affairs Anand Sharma, the congress nominee for Shimla seat Dhani Ram Shandil was taken in a procession consisting of supporters for filing nomination papers, here today.
After accepting the papers, returning officer Amar Singh Rathor disclosed that the candidate had filed three set of papers. He said, “Shandil was the first candidate to file papers from the Shimla reserved seat.â€
Including Shandil, five candidates filed papers for three seats in Himachal, on second day of nominations. In Hamirpur, Narender Thakur filed their papers as Indian National Congress candidates.
The three other candidates who filed papers are from BSP, with Mangat Ram and Punnu Ram filing their papers for the Hamirpur seat and Lala Ram as the party candidate from Mandi seat, Anil Khachi, chief electoral officer disclosed.
While filing of the nomination papers, the district administration kept the media out, citing rules that only four person could be permitted with the candidate, which led to a protest. Photographers, on the lookout for photo-opportunity, were prevented for entering the returning officers room. A complaint to the effect was lodged with the Election Commission and with Anil Khachi, the chief electoral officer in the state.
Meanwhile chief electoral officer Anil Khachi has clarified that while there was a restriction on the number of persons who can accompany a candidate at the time of filing of nomination in the chamber of returning officer, there was no general prohibition on the presence of the print and electronic media at the time of filing nomination.
Assets declared
Dhani Ram Shandil
Cash/fixed deposits/bonds Rs 33,88,400/-
Car Honda City 2007 Model Value Rs 5.5 lakhs
House at Shimla Value Rs 52 lakhs
Gold/Jewellery value Rs 10,000/-
Agricultural Land Value 4.07 Bighas Value Rs 5.5 lakhs
Total Rs 96,98,400/-
Anuradha Shandil W/o Dhani Ram Shandil
Cash/fixed deposits/bonds Rs 23,61,910/-
Car GETZ 2004 Model Value Rs 1.5 Lakhs
House –Gurgaon Apartment Rs 45 lakhs
Gold/Jewellery Rs 1 Lakh
Agricultural land 4 Biswas value Rs 80,000/-
Total Rs 71,91,910/-
Total Assets of candidate & wife Rs 1,68,90,310/- (Rounded off to about Rs 1.69 Cr)
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.
