Himachal polls: Congress announces second list, keeps CM's son waiting

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's son Vikramaditya did not figure in the Congress' second list of eight candidates for the November 9 assembly polls in the state.

The first list of 59 candidates was declared on October 18. The state has a 68-member assembly.

Vikramaditya was being speculated as the party's candidate from Shimla Rural.

Out of the eight candidates in the second list, Paras Ram's name was included in place of Bansi Lal for the Anni (SC) constituency.

The list included party leaders like Kewal Singh Pathania (Shahpur), Ashish Butail (Palampur), Hari Chand Sharma (Manali), Surender Singh Thakur (Kullu), Vivek Sharma (Kutlehar), Lakhwinder Rana (Nalagarh) and Deepak Rathore (Theog).

Except for Shimla Rural and Mandi, the party has declared candidates for all the other assembly seats.

The last date of filing nominations for the polls is October 23.

--IANS

sid/amit/bg