The unit, which held a meeting last evening, decided that S.C.Negi, a potential HVC candidate would not retire from the elections in favour of the BJP. The unit warned the BJP leaders from putting any further pressure or offering allurements to Negi to persuade him to change his decision.

Under the poll pact, the HVC is supposed to contest only one seat of Lahaul-Spiti and in rest three (in tribal-belt) the BJP would contest two (Kinnaur and Bharmaur). The HVC had also decided not to field its candidate for the Pragpur Assembly constituency, where by-election is slated for June 3 along with three other polls.

According to Tej Singh Thakur, a spokesman of the HVC, Negi would contest the assembly elections on the Telephone symbol. A campaign committee has also been set up for the election. Negi had warned the BJP from spreading false rumours about his retirement from the contest. The HVC nominee claimed that he even earlier had left the Congress to join the HVC so that he would protect the interests of the area. Negi cautioned the BJP against creating any hurdles in the development of Kinnaur.