Shimla: A former MP and BJP leader Suresh Chandel, who was expelled from the Lok Sabha in cash-for-query scam, now wants to "wash" the "blot" from his name, and has pleaded that he be allowed to contest in the upcoming Himachal Pradesh assembly election.

"I have requested the party leadership, both national and the state, to properly involve me in the party affairs", Suresh Chandel, a three-term MP from Hamirpur, told PTI over phone from Bilaspur. However, sources close to Chandel confirmed his deep desire to contest the polls from any assembly seat of Hamirpur parliamentary constituency.

Chandel wishes to end his political banishment, which began when he was exposed in a sting operation along with some other MPs, by seeking mandate in "janata ki adalat" (people's court), they said. "He would contest the Himachal poll definitely. This (people s court) will be the best platform to wash the blot from his face," they added. Chandel had desired to enter into the fray in the Hamirpur Lok Sabha by-election in June this year but did not contest after talks with the BJP central leadership.

There is talk of his inclusion in the BJP state election committee also but it has not been formally announced. While he was stripped of his Lok Sabha membership following the sting, he remained a member of the party. Chandel expressed confidence that the saffron party would win the assembly election in the hill state easily.

Source : PTI