Himachal CM banking on PM Modi’s big push to sail through in polls

Himachal Pradesh will go to the polls on November 12 for electing a new government in the state known for alternating power between the Congress and the BJP.

As many assembly constituencies in the state fall in the snow-bound areas of Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and Bharmour,  the Election Commission of India proposed to get the polling done before the snowfall .

The Election Commission on Friday announced the schedule for the assembly elections in a single phase for all 68-seats.

The election results will be declared on December 8, which is the date for counting of the votes.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced in Delhi that the model code of conduct will take effect in the state with an immediate effect. The process of nominations will start on October 17, after the notification for the elections is published.

The elections will be a big test for the leadership of Jai Ram Thakur, a first-time Chief Minister and equally important for the Congress, which lost party veteran Virbhadra Singh, 86, a year back. The Congress has decided not to name its Chief Ministerial face while the BJP says it’s Jai Ram Thakur to be next CM ‘s face.

In 2017 polls, which the BJP had fought under the leadership of former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, the party had won 44 seats while two independents also backed the government.

The Congress though had contested the poll under Virbhadra Singh lost power on the issue of corruption, mafia raj ,misrule and deteriorating law and order situation, especially in the contest of a rape and murder of a 16-yr old girl at Kotkhai in Shimla.

The Congress could win 22 seats. One seat was also won by CPM ‘s Rakesh Singha from Theog—a constituency of senior Congress leader and former speaker Vidya Stokes.

The elections are considered quite crucial for the BJP, which had recently won four states of UP, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa where the incumbent governments bounced back to power.

“We are confident that the victory pattern will continue. The people have an emotional connection with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They understand the benefits of a double -engine government. We have given a slogan of Riwaaz badlenge ( we will change the tradition) on alternating governments,” the Chief Minister said.

But, the Congress believes that anti-incumbency, inflation, unemployment and a weak leadership of Jai Ram Thakur will help the party to return to power.

“My family, especially my grandmother Indira Gandhi, was the one who granted full statehood to Himachal Pradesh. I have built my house in Shimla to fulfil her wish to settle down in the Himalayas” said AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who kick-started the party’s campaign by holding a big rally at Solan where she also tried to strike a chord with people of the state.

The contest, like earlier, will remain between the Congress and the BJP even as AAP is trying its luck in the state but has not been able to get much favourable response.

Himachal Pradesh has nearly 55.77 lakh voters of which 55.07 lakh are general voters while another 67.532 service voters.

Of total votes, the state has 1.5 lakh voters above 80 and 1.86 lakh first-time voters.