Mandi (HP): Unfazed by the conviction of his father and former Union Minister Sukhram in a corruption case, his son and Himachal Vikas Congress president Anil Sharma on July 11 said the party would project Sukhram as the Chief Ministerial candidate in the coming Assembly polls in the state.

He said his father would file an appeal in the Delhi High Court shortly against the conviction and he would himself contest from Mandi Sadar Assembly constituency if Sukhram was not acquitted before the elections.

Refuting the charge that Sukhram was furthering the interest of his family, he said party's working president Vijay Joshi was his father's first choice for the post of the president but he declined the offer and proposed his name.

Anil Sharma, appointed HVC chief after Sukhram's conviction, said there was no factionalism in the party.

He said HVC was keeping its options wide open for a tie-up with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the ensuing elections and would play a crucial role after the polls as no party was in a position to form government on its own.

Anil Sharma said he would visit the entire state and look for candidates with clean image.

He said the success of party's rally at Ghumarwin on July 6 had proved beyond doubt that HVC had emerged stronger after the conviction of its leader.

He said new office-bearers of the party would be announced soon in consultations with the working president.

PTI