Congress fields HP CM's wife in Mandi bypoll

Congress today announced the name of Pratibha Singh, wife of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, as its candidate for the Mandi Lok Sabha by-election slated for June 23.
Pratibha would file her nomination on May 30 while BJP's Jairam Thakur on June 1.
She had won from this seat in 2004 Lok Sabha polls.
The name of Pratibha was cleared by Congress President Sonia Gandhi on the recommendation of Himachal Pradesh Committee (HPCC), sources said.
The seat was vacated by Virbhadra Singh after he was elected to Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha and became Chief Minister.
Mandi Parliamentary constituency, the second biggest seat in the country, comprises of seven assembly constituencies spread over six districts of Shimla, Kinnaur, Chamba, Lahaul and Spiti, Kullu and Mandi and all three tribal assembly segments from part of this sprawling constituent which has highest polling booth at an height of 15,000 ft at Hikkim.

The Chief Minister had won this seat in 1971, 1980 and 2009 while former Union Communication minister Sukh Ram was elected from this seat in 1984, 1991 and 1996. Maheshwar Singh of BJP who has not quit the BJP then and formed Himachal Lokhit Party was elected from here in 1989, 1998 and 1999.
In 1977, Ganga Singh of Janata Party won this seat defeating Virbhadra.