himachal pradesh key candidate

An influential figure in Himachal politics, Bhardwaj is the minister for urban development in chief minister Jai Ram Thakur's cabinet, a four-time MLA and a former MP. Bhardwaj's stronghold is the Shimla seat - which he was held since 2007 - but this year the BJP has fielded him from the Kasumpti seat and fielded Sanjay Sood, a tea-seller, from Shimla.