For Kaul’s daughter, ticket can wait, paper filing can’t

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, October 21

The Congress high command is yet to decide as to who should be given the ticket from Mandi Sadar, but this did not stop Champa Thakur, the daughter of Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur, from filing nomination papers from the constituency today. Accompanied by supporters, Champa Thakur took out a procession and urged the people to vote for her.

After the exit of former Rural Development Minister Anil Sharma from the Congress, who joined the the BJP, Champa Thakur had applied for the ticket.

After the Congress high command put its decision on nine constituencies on hold, uncertainty hovered over the fate of Champa Thakur, who has been eagerly waiting for the nod of the party high command to get the ticket. It is learnt that Champa Thakur has been in a quandary as she knows if the party high command changes its mind at the last minute, it will dent her political career. A few days ago, Kaul Singh had declared that Champa Thakur had been given the party ticket against the Congress rebel and sitting MLA, Anil Sharma, who ditched the party before the Assembly elections. Earlier, it was expected that Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh would join her during the filing of papers in Mandi, but after the Congress high command delayed the decision on ticket allocation, no prominent leader was seen at the procession today.

However, Kaul Singh joined her at the Block Congress Office, urging the party workers to ensure her victory. Striking an emotional chord with the party workers, he said: “She is not only my daughter, but yours too. So, leave no stone unturned to ensure that she wins the elections.” He said the final decision of the party high command was still awaited. Champa Thakur is the chairperson of the Mandi Zila Parishad (ZP).