Dhumal, state chief in BJP list of candidates for Himachal Pradesh

Former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and Himachal Pradesh BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti are among the party candidates, a list for which was announced today, for the state assembly elections.

The BJP has declared its nominees for all the 68 seats in the state's assembly and the names also include Anil Sharma, Congress veteran Sukhram's son, who quit his party recently to join the BJP.

Dhumal, a two-time chief minister, will contest from Sujanpur instead of Hamirpur, which he represents in the outgoing assembly.

Dhumal and Union minister J P Nadda are seen as two most likely choices for the post of chief minister if the saffron party comes back to power in the Congress-ruled state. The BJP has not named its chief ministerial candidate.

The BJP Central Election Committee had met last week to finalise their candidates in the state. The single-phase election will be held on November 9.