Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh urges Sonia Gandhi to announce of PM candidate

Struck by Congress' debacle in four states, Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Monday urged the Congress President Sonia Gandhi to make early announcement of the party's Prime Ministerial candidate to counter the advantage taken by BJP who had named Narendra Modi for the top post.

Talking to reporters, he said it was for the party high command, especially Sonia Gandhi, to name the party's choice for the top post without further delay so that the party leaders could counter the propaganda of the BJP.

He blamed anti-incumbency factor for the defeat in the four states and said Congress did not lose the elections but local factors scripted the defeat of the party.

Attacking the opposition BJP, Singh criticised former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal for "misusing" the official machinery to harm opponents during their rule and said he (Dhumal) even "targeted me and my family for no cogent reasons".

Chiding Dhumal and other state BJP leaders for celebrating the party's victory in four states, he asked them to recall their defeated in assembly polls a year back.

Earlier, addressing a public meeting at Touni Devi, Singh exuded confidence that Congress would sweep the Lok Sabha elections in the state and appealed to people to vote for the Congress.