Shimla: The Congress finally declared the names of its official nominees in 28 of the 34 wards.

Shimla: The Congress finally declared the names of its official nominees in 28 of the 34 wards.

Even though in many wards more than one Congress-backed candidate has jumped into the fray, following a meeting between Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu here today, consensus was arrived at in 28 wards. It was also decided that the CM, MLAs and senior party functionaries would campaign for the party.

Though the much delayed action of issuing the list of candidates after withdrawals was over today, it could leave rebels in many wards. However, the Congress could improve its chances by declaring a list of candidates. “We have formally announced candidates in 28 wards and in the remaining too, some candidates can retire in favour of Congress-backed candidates,” said Sukhu.

He said the Congress would go to the polls highlighting the “failure of the Modi regime along with its unfulfilled promises”. “Despite giving all four Lok Sabha seats to the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his two visits to the state has only disappointed the people of the state as no major announcements were made,” he said.

The six wards in which consensus could not be arrived on one single name includes Totu, Majiath (Shiv Nagar), Kachi Ghati, Krishnagar, Shanti Vihar and Vikasnagar. The BJP on the other hand has declared its candidates in all 34 wards of the Shimla MC. The other main political player in the Shimla MC polls, the CPM, has also not declared candidates in seven wards. The CPM has said its party cadres and supporters would extend support to like-minded candidates in these seven wards.