Senior Congress leader Kaul Singh Thakur Wednesday said party president Sonia Gandhi would certainly consider the "party's stand of zero tolerance for corruption" while deciding who would be the next chief minister of Himachal Pradesh.
Indirectly targeting state Congress president Virbhadra Singh, Kaul Singh in an informal interaction with reporters here said: "Sonia Gandhi has said it time and again that the party will not compromise on corruption."
He said Virbhadra Singh had to resign from the union ministry after a Shimla court framed corruption charges against him.
"But he was appointed the Pradesh Congress Committee chief after that, in the interest of the party. I had also resigned from the post. I am sure my resignation from the post would prove to be a blessing in disguise for me," Kaul Singh said.
Kaul Singh, perceived to be a claimant for chief ministership, denied that he had ever claimed to be in the race for the top position.
"Whatever responsibility Sonia Gandhi would give me, I will do that. I don't believe in politics of pressure," he said.
The former state Congress chief said his party would emerge victorious in the assembly elections with two-thirds majority.
"Some people of my own party have been spreading rumours that I am losing. But I am comfortably winning, despite the fact that two Congress rebels were pushed into the fray against me," he said.
Results of the Nov 4 assembly elections will be declared Dec 20.