Sukh Ram confident of Cong win in HP, praises Virbhadra

Sukh Ram, former Union communication minister from Mandi district of the state, said, "the Congress will win the polls and the credit for the victory would go to him (VB Singh)."

"Singh campaigned intensively in all 68 seats with exemplary zeal and if Congress forms the government, the credit would go to him," Sukh Ram told reporters here.

The counting of votes will take place on December 20.

However, the Octogenarian Congress leader said the high command will take the final call in this regard keeping in view the fact that which leader has the potential to win Lok Sabha seats for the party in 2014.

When asked about the claim of former HPCC chief Kaul Singh Thakur, who also hails from his home district Mandi, he said, "I would be happy if the next chief minister is from Mandi but the high command would take into consideration the stature and leadership qualities before naming the next CLP chief".

Ruling out his own candidature for the top post, Ram said "it is out of question and I have made room for my son and now I am all for him".

Referring to the old rivalry with Singh, Ram said "let bygones be bygones and we should forget the bitter memories of the past."