SHIMLA: Congress is all set to field Pratibha Singh, wife of former chief minister late Virbhadra Singh, from Mandi parliamentary seat. An official announcement about the candidates is likely to be made on Tuesday.
Congress has almost decided candidates on all four seats, including three assembly seats for the byelections. Fielding Pratibha Singh from Mandi would give Congress an edge as following the demise of Virbhadra Singh, people are emotionally attached to the family at the moment.
Aashray Sharma, grandson of former Union minister Sukh Ram, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2019 parliamentary election from Mandi seat, had staked claim for the ticket, but the party high command preferred Pratibha Singh over him to gain on sympathy votes this time. This is not the first time when Pratibha Singh would be contesting here.
