Chander Kumar is Congress nominee for Kangra, Brakta for Shimla

SHIMLA: The Congress high command on Thursday announced candidates for Kangra and Shimla seats while it delayed announcement on Hamirpur seat where chief minister Virbhadra Singh and Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu have entered into a tug of war on the candidate issue.
In Kangra, party has finalized the name of former MP and prominent OBC leader from the district, Chaudhary Chander Kumar, while in Shimla, it has favoured sitting MLA from Rohru, Mohan Lal Brakta.Both Chander Kumar and Brakta are the choice of chief minister Virbhadra Singh. Party had already announced the name of Pratibha Singh, wife of Virbhadra Singh, from Mandi on Wednesday.
In Kangra, the other contender for the ticket included Union minister Chandresh Kumari, who is sitting MP from Jodhpur, and Ragubir Singh Bali, son of transport minister G S Bali. In Shimla, HPCC president was favouring the candidature of Vinod Sultanpuri.
While the party has announced candidates for Mandi, Shimla and Kangra, suspense continues over Hamirpur seat, where Virbhadra Singh is batting for independent MLA from Sujanpur, Rajender Singh Rana, who is now an associate member of Congress, while Sukhu wants to field industries minister Mukesh Agnihotri.
BJP and Congress have by now announced candidates for three seats, out of four, while they are struggling to find suitable candidates for Mandi and Hamirpur respectively.