Date:12/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/12/stories/2008101258051200.htm

National

I’m not contesting: Digvijay

Anita Joshua

NEW DELHI: The former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh on Saturday said he would contest neither the Assembly nor Lok Sabha elections. This, however, did not mean he planned to give up electoral politics forever, he said.

The decision is in keeping with the self-imposed exile from electoral politics he announced in 2003 after the Congress’ poor showing in the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh.

Mool Singh – a former legislator and Pradesh Congress Committee president – will be the party candidate in Mr. Digvijay Singh’s Assembly constituency, Raghogarh.

It is learnt that Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath will also not contest the Assembly elections despite speculation on his being projected as the Chief Minister.

According to M. Veerappa Moily, chairman of the party’s screening committee for shortlisting candidates, no MP has submitted applications for contesting the Assembly polls in the State.

Gehlot to contest in Sardarpur

In Chhattisgarh, the former Chief Minister Ajit Singh is understood to have expressed his willingness to be pitted against Chief Minister Raman Singh in any Assembly segment.

In Rajasthan, the former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s candidature in Sardarpur is certain.

In a related development, the Congress set up an 11-member committee for Jammu and Kashmir, where Assembly elections are due this month. It will be headed by Union Minister Saifuddin Soz.

The other members are the former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ghulam Rasool Kar, Mangat Ram Sharma, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, Taj Mohiuddin, Mula Ram, Chaudhary Lal Singh, Madan Lal Sharma, Khem Lata Wakhloo and P. Namgyal.