Virbhadra turns 84, says will be active in politics but won't fight polls

Six-time Himachal Pradesh chief minister and sitting Congress MLA Virbhadra Singh turned 84 today and on the occasion said that he will remain active in politics but won't contest elections.

One never retires in politics and I will continue to take part in it and even campaign and work for the Congress party but not contest elections, said the legislator from Arki while interacting with his supporters here.

"All our dreams are not fulfilledbut I am fully satisfied with my achievements and happy that most of the development in Himachal took place under the Congress, added Singh, who became the chief minister of the hill-state for the first time in April 1983.

Asked about his successor Jai Ram Thakur of the BJP, the veteran Congress leader, who was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time from Mahasu constituency in 1962, said the incumbent chief minister of the state should take his own decisions.

Jai Ram is a well meaning person but he should take his own decisions instead of depending on his advisors, Singh said.

Stressing that he has no enmity with anyone, Singh said the current HPCC chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukkhu has completed more than five years in the office and fresh organisational elections should be held.

Himachal Governor Acharya Dev Vrat and senior congress leaders greeted Singh on his birthday.