Congress leader Vidya Stokes, 89, was admitted to Fortis Hospital in Mohali today after her health condition deteriorated. Doctors has advised rest to Vidya Stokes.
Vidya Stokes had offered the Theog assembly seat to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who had vacated his seat (Shimla Rural) in favour of his son Vikramaditya Singh, as she wanted to retire from electoral politics. However, after the Chief Minister chose to contest from Arki, Singh asked Stokes to withdraw her decision of not contesting the polls.
The Congress high command is yet to choose a candidate from Theog assembly constituency for November 9 election. Vidya Stokes was supposed to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi regarding ticket issue, but due to health issue she could not leave.
Kuldeep Singh Rathore, a former PCC general secretary, a close confidant of Anand Sharma, Atul Sharma, Deepak Rathore and Prakash Thakur are other ticket aspirants from Theog constituency and as two days are left for filling nomination for the election, Congress will have to take call on its candidate.
BJP candidate Rakesh Verma had won the seat three times in last five election. Accompanied by thousands of supporters, Verma has filled his nomination today. In his address, Verma blames Stokes for stalling development of the region.
