Virbhadra named next Himachal chief minister

The Congress leadership Saturday evening cleared his name to head the government in the state, party general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi said here.

He said Virbhadra Singh's name was cleared by party president Sonia Gandhi after a resolution was sent to her by the newly-elected legislators authorising her to announce the next chief minister of the state.

The Congress drubbed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the state assembly polls, winning 36 out of 68 seats Thursday.