Virbhadra Singh has been the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh more number of times than anyone else. A veteran in Congress and an established leader in Himachal Pradesh, he will be contesting the upcoming elections from Arki constituency.


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Virbhadra Singh has been in politics for well over half a century - gaining his first Lok Sabha seat in 1962. A graduate from Delhi's St Stephen's College, the 84-year-old has been the longest-serving chief minister of Himachal. His first tenure was between 1983 and 1985 and subsequent tenures were 1993 to 1998, 2003 to 2007 and 2012 to present. 


Credited with development and tourism-related work in the state, Virbhadra - a scion of the Rampur-Bushahr royal family, has often had to fend off attacks from not just rival parties but from younger leaders in his own party - most notably Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.


Virbhadra has also made headlines for corruption charges against him. He and his wife are currently on bail from a CBI court. In fact, he recently said that he has no money left for campaigning because his assets have been seized by CBI and the IT department, and added that the upcoming elections would be his final hurrah in politics.


He will take on Ratan Singh Pal from the BJP.