By IANS
Shimla : The Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) has urged its party chief in Himachal Pradesh to contest from Shimla for next month’s assembly polls.
“We have passed a resolution Monday, urging the state BSP chief Vijay Singh Mankotia, who is also our chief ministerial candidate, to contest from the Shimla seat, as Shimla is the state’s capital with people residing here from all over the state,” said a spokesman of the party Tuesday here.
Till recently, Mankotia was reportedly reluctant to contest from his home constituency of Shahpur in the Kangra valley.
Mankotia, a fiery leader and two-time tourism minister of the state, was expelled by the Congress party a few months ago for alleged anti-party activities and joined the BSP.
The BSP plans to contest all the 68 assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh and pose a serious challenge to the two established parties, the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The second phase of polling for the 65 assembly seats is due Dec 19. Counting will take place Dec 28.