Verma’s late husband was a three-term MLA and her family is said to have influence across Shimla. Earlier, former BJP state president Khimi Ram Sharma had joined Congress at a function in the capital.
AICC incharge Rajeev Shukla, welcoming Verma into the party, said the public mood in the hill state is in favour of Congress, and the BJP will be ousted from power when the elections are held later 2022. He said besides inflation, Agnipath has triggered extreme resentment in the state which contributes 4% of the strength to the army.
According to Shukla, employment is also a major issue in Himachal Pradesh, and Congress will launch a statewide “yuva rozgar yatra” from Dharamshala on July 27, which will seek to associate the young population with the party to fight for their employment.