Monday, November 5, 2012

All eyes on Independents
Shimla, November 4
With 105 Independents, including some prominent Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rebels, in the fray, all eyes are on them as they may hold the balance in the formation of the government, post-counting.

Around 75 per cent polling recorded

Heavy polling leaves candidates guessing
Dharamsala, November 4
Heavy voter turnout in Kangra district, especially constituencies where rebel candidates are giving a major fight, has candidates of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress guessing.

Kangra holds key to power
Dharamsala, November 4
Kangra, the biggest and most populous district in the state, will hold the key to power in the next Assembly. The district had 16 Assembly constituencies.

75% turn up to vote in Kangra
Dharamsala, November 4
Kangra witnessed 75 per cent polling today. It is politically the most significant district of the state with 15 Assembly constituencies.

78% polling in Solan, Sirmaur
Solan/Nahan, November 4
Solan district recorded a high of 78 per cent voting in its five constituencies, with Doon recording the highest polling percentage of 89. Nalagarh recorded 84 per cent polling, Kasauli 75.3 per cent, Arki 73.43 per cent and Solan the lowest percentage of 67.25.



Oldest woman voter 109-year-old Aladi at Nahan.

Elections clean, but candidates clever
Mandi, November 4
These state Assembly elections have turned out to be one of the cleanest elections in the state, but inventive candidates and parties chose private buildings for wall writings, hoardings, banners, posters and flags in public places and residential areas.

Seraj records 84.51%, highest polling in Mandi
Mandi, November 4
With the Seraj constituency recording the highest 84.51 per cent polling, Mandi district recorded 76.95 per cent polling for its 10 Assembly seats for which elections were held today.

97% at Churah in Chamba
Chamba, November 4
Chamba recorded 77 to 80 per cent voter turnout in the Vidhan Sabha elections held today.

Palampur registers 70% polling
Palampur, November 4
Assembly segments of Palampur, Jaisinghpur, Baijnath and Sulaha of Palampur saw more than 70 per cent voter turnout today. The voter turnout in rural areas crossed a heartening 85 per cent. Reports reaching here said upper areas of Palampur like Kandi, Thala and Lohana saw more than 80 per cent voter turnout. Voters started queueing up outside polling booths in rural areas since morning. Many reached the polling stations before 8 am.Women voters outnumbered men at several polling booths.
103-year-old Nathu Ram goes to cast his vote in Palampur on Sunday.

People stand in a queue to cast their votes at Devrighat, 30 km from Shimla, on Sunday. Photo: Amit Kanwar

Banjar scores highest turnout in Kullu
Kullu, November 4
As many as 79 per cent voters exercised their franchise in Kullu district today. Banjar recorded the highest 82 per cent polling in the district.

Polling peaceful in Hamirpur, Una
Hamirpur, November 4
Hamirpur and Una districts registered a large voter turnout today. The polling was peaceful as no untoward incident was reported from any where in the two districts.

71.3% in Bilaspur, 78% at Nurpur
Bilaspur, November 4
Polling was recorded at 71.30 per cent in Bilaspur Sadar, 70.50 per cent in Jhandutta, 84 per cent in Naina Devi and 66 per cent in Ghumarwin constituencies today.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Voters’ silence keeps poll pundits guessing
Mandi, November 3
More than 46 lakh voters will decide which party will form the next government in the state based on the candidates’ rapport with the public, internal squabbles within various parties in each constituency, anti-incumbency factor in the Assembly elections tomorrow.

Hit by delimitation, they can’t vote for themselves
Shimla, November 3
With their native places becoming parts of other constituencies due to delimitation, many stalwarts from various parties will not be able to vote for themselves as their segments stand re-carved.

Stakes high for BJP in Hamirpur, Una districts
Hamirpur/Una, November 3
The stakes in the Assembly elections to be held tomorrow are quite high for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Hamirpur and Una districts, with five Assembly seats each.

Virbhadra visits Beas dera
Amritsar, November 3
Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee chief Virbhadra Singh paid a ‘secret visit’ to Dera Radha Soami in Beas, about 40 km from here, this morning.

Candlelight march taken out to urge residents to vote
Solan, November 3
To encourage voters to exercise their right to franchise, a candlelight march was taken out at Dharampur in Kasauli last evening.




ITI students hold a candlelight march at Dharampur in Kasauli.

Taleru in Dalhousie has lowest No. of voters
Chamba, November 3
Taleru polling station with 24 electors in the Dalhousie Assembly constituency of Chamba district has the lowest number of voters in the state. Six poll officials, including two security personnel, will conduct the poll in this polling booth.

ITBP, CRPF jawans to man polling booths
Mandi, November 3
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has deployed six companies of the ITBP to man 45 hyper-sensitive and 116 sensitive polling stations in Mandi district tomorrow. The ECI has also deputed two-and-half companies of the CRPF to man 22 hyper-sensitive and 45 sensitive polling stations in Kullu.

Braille signage feature-enabled EVMs
Shimla, November 3
The Election Commission has introduced Braille signage features in electronic voting machines (EVMs) to facilitate the 1,162 visually impaired electors to vote without the help of others.

Ashapuri won’t vote in protest
Palampur, November 3
Residents of Ashapuri village have decided not to cast their vote in the elections as a mark of protest against the failure of the state government to heal the wounds of the next of kin of victims of the Ashapuri bus mishap.

Security up on state borders
Chamba, November 3
In the wake of the elections, security arrangements on all checkpoints bordering Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab states have been tightened so that no suspect or stranger can infiltrate into the state.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Fortnight of fireworks and misfires
Shimla, November 2
The fortnight-long high-tech and high-pitch campaign for the November 4 Assembly poll, which came to a close today, saw top leaders of the BJP and Congress, the main contenders for power, hop across the hills on choppers, holding rallies, road shows and media conferences to woo the electorate.

Virbhadra’s out, not his clout
Rohru: Delimitation has robbed this constituency of its VIP status. Virbhadra Singh, who won the seat five times in a row, has been forced to shift to Shimla Rural as the seat has been reserved. The entire Tikker tehsil has been shifted to Jubbal-Kotkhai.

New BJP face takes on Cong veteran
Nachan: The BJP has fielded an activist of the Sangh and teacher Vinod Kumar instead of the sitting MLA Dile Ram. Congress veteran Tek Chand Dogra also faces Damodar Singh, an Independent who was denied the BJP ticket. Once again Nachan is witnessing a triangular contest, as in 2003. BJP’s bold experiment here in terms of caste and regional combinations has turned it into a triangular battle.

Independent may cut into both vote banks
Karsog: There is a triangular contest between two “Rams and a Lal” in this reserved seat for the second time. Party hopper Mansa Ram, who lost in the 2007 election on the BJP ticket, has bagged the Congress ticket from Mast Ram.

4-way contest on cards
Anni: BJP MLA Kishorilal is facing a tough battle from Congress newcomer Khub Ram, Himachal Lokhit Party’s Nand Lal and Congress rebel Ishwar Das, an Independent.

Independent worries main parties
Chopal: Independent candidate Balbir Singh Verma is giving the BJP and the Congress a run for their money in this constituency. There are six candidates, but it is essentially a triangular fight involving sitting Congress MLA Subhash Manglate, Seema Mehta of the BJP and Verma.

BJP rebel queers pitch
Indora: This constituency is reserved and was earlier named Gangath. The entire area lies along the border with Pathankot district in Punjab. The influence of Punjab is substantial as people are dependent for business and other things on Pathankot.

Jaitley seeks clarification from Cong
Shimla, November 2
Hitting out at the Nehru-Gandhi family, BJP leader Arun Jaitley today sought a specific clarification on the issue of donation given by the Congress to Young India, while terming it as “gross impropriety and illegality” as it involved use of party funds for commercial ventures.

Khanna flays Cong over corruption
Nurpur, November 2
Actor-turned-politician and former Union Minister Vinod Khanna gave a clarion call to oust the Congress in the Assembly poll. He was addressing an election meeting in support of BJP candidate Ranbir Nikka at Matholli, near here, today.

Bahuguna, Birender campaign for Kaul
Takoli/Kullu, November 2
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and Congress in charge Birender Chaudhary today invoked “Chief Minister (CM) card” in their last bid to save the shaking citadel of Darang Congress MLA Kaul Singh Thakur.

Virbhadra as CM would have helped Cong: Amarinder
Shimla, November 2
In a politically significant remark, former Punjab Chief Minister said today that declaring Virbhadra Singh as the Chief Minister would have further improved the poll prospects of the Congress.

Friday, November 2, 2012

I have buried the hatchet with Virbhadra: Mankotia
Dharamsala, November 1
“I have buried the hatchet with HPCC president Virbhadra Singh,” said Vijai Singh Mankotia when asked to comment about the status of his relations with the HPCC chief. Mankotia had carried out a crusade against Virbhadra and is now contesting as the Congress candidate from Shahpur.

Vijai Singh Mankotia and Sudhir Sharma, Congress candidates, address mediapersons in Dharamsala on Thursday. Photo: Kamaljeet

Dhumal govt facilitating illegal land deals: Cong leader
Shimla, November 1
AICC general secretary Birender Singh Chaudhary has charged the PK Dhumal government with facilitating illegal deals involving hundreds of bighas of land in Rampur-Keonthal area, on the outskirts of the city, in which money was arranged by a company outside the state to purchase land in the name of a local person.

Fresh hike in LPG fuels BJP campaign
Shimla, November 1
The fresh hike in the price of LPG cylinder has fuelled electioneering in the hill state with the ruling BJP trying to encash on it as the move couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time for them.

Make voting compulsory, says Advani Majra (Nahan), November 1 Stressing on electoral reforms, senior BJP leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishan Advani today said voting should be made compulsory. He said a voter could exercise his right to reject if he did not find a suitable candidate, but he should exercise his right to vote. LK Advani at a rally at Majra in Nahan on Thursday.

‘Will promote HP for film shooting’ Dharamsala, November 1 Bollywood actor and former BJP MP from Gurdaspur, Punjab, Vinod Khanna today started his election campaign for the party from Dharamsala. He met residents in the Sheila area of Dharamsala and appealed them to vote for the BJP. Bollywood actor and former BJP MP from Gurdaspur Vinod Khanna interacts with residents in the Sheila area of Dharamsala on Thursday. Photo: Kamaljeet

Cong fails to check inflation, says CM
Hamirpur, November 1
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today lashed out at the Congress for its failure to check inflation. Addressing a public meeting at Bangana today, Dhumal said, “By increasing the price of LPG refill from today, the Congress-led UPA government has given a gift of Karva Chauth to housewives.”

Virbhadra targeting Rajputs of Kangra: Expelled Cong man
Dharamsala, November 1
Former block president of Jwalamukhi Congress Nardev Kanwar, who was removed from his post yesterday by the HPCC, today launched a scathing attack on Virbhadra Singh.

Cong seeks clarification from Modi
Shimla, November 1
The Congress today asked the BJP to clarify its position about Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s stand on women and make it clear if whether it subscribed to his stand of putting a price on the dignity of women.

Amarinder claims Cong wave
Nurpur, November 1
Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said the induction stove would not fulfill the dream of Prem Kumar Dhumal of becoming the Chief Minister again. Addressing an election rally at Fatehpur on Wednesday in support of Congress candidate Sujan Singh Pathania, he said if Dhumal had undertaken development of the state seriously, he would not have taken the support of such a political election gimmick.

Rajnath slams Cong for corruption
Baldwara (Mandi), November 1
Senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh today attacked the Congress-led UPA government and held it responsible for “rampant corruption in the government and price rise in the country”.

constituency watch Straight fight between two major parties Keylong: A hotelier-turned-politician, Ravi Thakur, son of late Lata Thakur, the first woman legislator from the tribal belt of Lahaul-Spiti, is facing BJP candidate Ramlal Markanda. Congress candidate Ravi Thakur welcomes Rahul Gandhi in Keylong.

BJP candidate, Cong rebel face off
Paonta Sahib: The multi-cornered contest in this Bahti community dominated segment in Sirmaur has virtually turned into a straight fight between Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sukh Ram and Congress rebel Kirnesh Jung, who has entered the fray as an Independent.

Oldest BJP candidate vs youngest Cong nominee
Jaisinghpur: Having stepped into the shoes of his father Milkhi Ram Goma, 26-year-old Congress candidate Yadvinder Goma is taking on the oldest BJP candidate, Capt (retd) Atma Ram, who has represented Rajgir constituency, now renamed Jaisinghpur, four times.

Second encounter in 11 months
Renuka: Hriday Ram and Vinay Kumar made their debut in electoral politics only 11 months ago. In 2007, Prem Singh of the Congress defeated Balbir Singh of the BJP. The seat fell vacant with Prem Singh’s death. In the by-election on November 30 last year, BJP’s Hriday Ram, a former bureaucrat, defeated Prem Singh’s son Vinay Kumar by 3,526 votes. This was the first time the BJP won the seat.

BJP rebel gives Cong the edge
Bhatiyyat: This constituency is predominantly rural. The rebel factor and rivalry between Bhupinder Singh Chauhan and Bikram Singh Jaryal has been marring the chances of the BJP. In the last Assembly elections, Shanta Kumar loyalist Chauhan was given the BJP ticket. Jaryal contested as Independent and secured 10,474 votes, leading to Chauhan’s defeat by a slender margin of about 300 votes.

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Thursday, November 1, 2012

Join politics to change system, Rahul urges youth, women
Ghumarwin, October 31
AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi today exhorted youth and women to come forward and join politics to help him in his mission of “cleansing the system” that required young blood.

Says BJP’s fight against corruption a pretence

Rahul Gandhi, AICC general secretary, at a rally in Banikhet in Dalhousie on Wednesday.

Badal addresses BJP rally in Nalagarh
Baruna (Nalagarh), October 31
Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab, said today that the Congress-led UPA government would make a record of sorts and enter the Guinness Book of World Records as numerous scams were being unearthed every now and then.




Parkash Singh Badal, CM, Punjab, at Baruna in Nalagarh on Wednesday.

Yechuri calls for support to third front
Shimla, October 31
Maintaining that the time was ripe for the emergence of a third political alternative, senior CPM leader Sita Ram Yechuri today called upon the voters in the state to support the Himachal Lok Morcha (HLM) and pave the way for the emergence of third political force at the national level.

Sita Ram Yechuri, CPM Polit buro member, addresses a rally in Shimla on Wednesday.

BJP renaming national schemes for political mileage: Azad
Shimla, October 31
Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad criticised the Dhumal government today for renaming various Central schemes after BJP leaders to claim credit in the elections.

Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad addresses mediapersons in Shimla on Wednesday.

Dhumal hits out at Centre
Patta (Baddi), October 31
Chief Minister PK Dhumal said today that the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre was discriminating against Himachal and Himachalis and this was manifested in the untimely curtailment of the Central industrial package.

PK Dhumal

Cong-ruled states responsible for female foeticide: Smriti
Mandi, October 31
To counter the impact of slogans of “women power and united Congress in Seraj” against BJP four-timer Jai Ram Thakur, BJP All-India Mahila Morcha president Smriti Irani and All India BJP SC Cell president Ramnath Govil today held Congress-ruled states responsible for female foeticide. They also alleged that the party was responsible for crime against women and discrimination against the Dalits.
Smriti Irani, Bharatiya Janata Mahila Morcha national president, at a rally in Janjheli on Wednesday.

No development in Palampur in 5 years: HLP
Palampur, October 31
Dulo Ram, vice-president, Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP), said today that both BJP and the Congress had cheated residents of Palampur as all development activities in this town remained suspended for five years.

BJP govt most corrupt, says Virbhadra
Sundernagar, October 31
HPCC chief Virbhadra Singh has said the BJP government led by Chief Minister PK Dhumal looted the natural resources of the state.

Chief Secretary reviews poll arrangements
Shimla, October 31
Chief Secretary Sudripta Roy today said all preventive measures had been taken to ensure free, fair, peaceful and transparent elections in the state as per the instructions of the Election Commission of India.

Anurag hits out at Centre for price rise
Chamba, October 31
National president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and MP Anurag Thakur has slammed the UPA government for inflation and capping on LPG cylinders.

Seeks vote for BJP to end woes

constituency watch
Family politics dominates Manali landscape
Manali: This popular tourist destination has become a hub of political activity since the Delimitation Commission carved out the Manali constituency out of Kullu.

The Solang valley in Manali. The poll battle in the region mainly involves three families.

Incomplete college building major poll issue
Jhanduta: It’s a fight between traditional rivals Rikhi Ram Kondal of the BJP and Beeru Ram Kishore of the Congress from the Reserved Assembly segment of Geharwin in Bilaspur district, which has now been renamed Jhanduta.

MP’s son, Ayurvedic doc go door-to-door for votes
Kasauli: Vinod Sultanpuri, son of six-time Member of Parliament KD Sultanpuri of the Congress, is trying to make his electoral debut from this seat which has been a Congress bastion, but was wrested by Dr Rajeev Sehzal of the BJP in 2007.

Cong citadel to witness old rivalries once again
Shillai: Four-time MLA from this traditional Congress stronghold Harsh Wardhan Chauhan is locked in a straight battle with his rival Baldev Tomar of the BJP. During the last Assembly polls, Chauhan defeated Amar Singh, an Independent, while Baldev Tomar ended up a poor third and even lost his security deposit. This time the scenario has changed as Amar Singh is not in the fray and is backing Tomar. There are three more candidates: Hari Ram (CPM), Nathu Ram (BSP) and KS Jindal (NCP), but none of them is likely to secure enough votes to make any significant difference to the contest.

Poll officers fail to check paid news: RTI activist
Sundernagar, October 31
Right to Information (RTI) activist Lawan Thakur said district electoral officers (DEOs) had failed to develop a mechanism to check and stop the paid news menace in the Assembly elections in the state.

Samast Bharatiya Party to back HLP
Bilaspur, October 31
Sudesh Aggrawal, national president, Samast Bharatiya Party (SBP), has said though his party did not put up any candidate in the Assembly elections, the party’s national executive had decided to support all candidates of the Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP).

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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

constituency watch
Kullu royal scion in race against three new faces
Kullu: The present scion of the erstwhile Rupi Kullu kingdom, Maheshwar Singh, is fighting a do-or-die battle in the 35 years of his political life. He is pitted against three first-timers: Congress rebel Prem Lata Thakur, Sunder Thakur of the Congress and Ram Singh of the BJP in a multi-cornered contest. BSP, NCP and an Independent candidate are also in the fray, but they are struggling to find their feet.

HLP chief Maheshwar Singh with other leaders at a rally. Photo: Jai Kumar

Veteran Cong leader vs new BJP candidate
Bharmour: This tribal constituency is witnessing a contest between old Congress warhorse Thakur Singh Bharmouri and new BJP candidate Jiya Lal. The BJP denied the party ticket to sitting MLA and Assembly Speaker Tulsi Ram to beat anti-incumbency in the constituency. Tulsi Ram initially decided to field his wife as a rebel. However, he was persuaded by the party high command and decided to support Jiya Lal.

De-reserved Kasumpti to witness close battle
Junga: The entry of Vijay Jyoti from the royal family of the erstwhile princely state of Keonthal as an Independent has added a new dimension to the multi-cornered electoral battle in Kasumpti, upsetting the calculations of the major parties.

Rebels may mar Cong, BJP chances
Ghumarwin: The presence of rebels is giving a tough time to both parties. The Congress has fielded sitting MLA Rajesh Dharmani again. The BJP has chosen a new candidate, Rajinder Garg. They are facing former party MLAs who have jumped into the fray as rebels.

2 ex-student leaders locked in multi-cornered contest
Una: This constituency is witnessing a multi-cornered contest this time, with sitting MLA Satpal Singh Satti in the fray for the third time. A former ABVP leader, Satti broke the dominance of the Congress in this constituency in 2003.

At 4,200m, Hikkim highest polling station
Keylong, October 30
For 326 Buddhist tribal voters, Hikkim at 4,200m is a virtual polling station in clouds, the highest in the world, with Komik, the world’s highest village, situated at 4,275m.



A view of Komik village, the highest in the world connected by road.

Price rise due to global economic crisis: Sonia
Dharamsala, October 30
Congress president Sonia Gandhi at a political rally held in Kangra today attributed price rise in the country on external factors. She said there was a global economic crisis which was increasing the prices of essential items all over the world.

BJP seeks ECI nod to campaign on November 3
Shimla, October 30
The BJP today sought special permission from the Election Commission of India (ECI) to campaign even on November 3. The party has told the commission that delays by the Air Traffic Control in the landing and take-off of helicopters of their leaders had resulted in loss of time.

Smriti blames Congress for failing to feed poor
Kandaghat, October 30
Smriti Irani, president, All-India Mahila Morcha, BJP, today said the anti-poor stance of the Congress had been exposed in its failure to feed the poor despite directions of the Apex Court.

Smriti Irani, president, All-India Mahila Morcha, BJP, with Sheila Kumari, party candidate for Solan, at a rally in Kandaghat on Tuesday.

Virbhadra dividing state into upper, lower Himachal: Dhumal
Shimla, October 30
Chief Minister PK Dhumal today accused state Congress chief Virbhadra Singh of spreading regionalism for his political interests.

Left keen to repeat MC poll success
Shimla, October 30
The impressive win of the CPM in the Shimla Municipal Corporation (MC) polls has rekindled the hopes of the Left parties to enter the Vidhan Sabha after a span of 20 years. Rakesh Singh of the CPM was the last to represent the party in 1993.


Brinda Karat, CPM Politburo member, addresses mediapersons in Shimla on Tuesday. Photo: Amit Kanwar

Govt has neglected Chamba: Cong leader
Chamba, October 30
Congress leader Pawan Nayyar, who is contesting the Assembly elections from Chamba, has lashed out at the BJP-led state government for neglecting Chamba district in the past five years.

Cong misleading people on irrigation project: Pathania
Nurpur, October 30
Attacking the Congress during election meetings at Baranda, Bodh and Ladhori, Independent candidate Rakesh Pathania alleged that Congress candidate Ajay Mahajan was misleading the people on the issue of Finna Singh irrigation project.

BJP could not execute all projects: Virbhadra
Palampur, October 30
Virbhadra Singh, former Chief Minister and HPCC president, today said the BJP had failed to execute all development projects in this region.

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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

BJP should ask Gadkari to step down, says Anand Sharma
Dharamsala, October 29
Taking on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the issue of corruption, Union Minister for Industry, Commerce and Textiles Anand Sharma today termed BJP national president Nitin Gadkari as a corrupt businessman.

Union Industry, Commerce and Textiles Minister Anand Sharma addresses mediapersons in Dharamsala on Monday. Photo: Kamaljeet

Dhumal accuses UPA of neglecting state
Nurpur, October 29
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal while addressing election meetings at Rehan and Jawali in support of BJP candidates from Fatehpur and Jawali Assembly segments has alleged that the UPA government had always neglected the hill state since it came to power.

CM falsely accusing UPA: Virbhadra
Sundernagar, October 29
HPCC chief Virbhadra Singh has said Chief Minister PK Dhumal was falsely accusing the UPA government for not giving grant to the state. He said in fact due to the wrong policies of the state government, a Central grant of Rs 10,500 crore was not utilised.

Smriti fuels poll campaign with LPG and price hike
Shimla, October 29
To capitalise on the cap on LPG cylinders imposed by the UPA regime, actor-turned-politician Smriti Irani today used all her histrionics to woo the voters, especially women on the issue. Holding an induction heater, the All-India Mahila BJP chief who was here today to campaign in favour of the BJP, tried to make price rise and limiting subsidy on LPG as the main poll issues. 




Actor-turned-politician Smriti Irani, president, All-India Mahila BJP, with women activists in Shimla on Monday. Photo: Amit Kanwar

Women not safe in Congress-ruled states, says Smriti
Solan, October 29
Smriti Irani, national president, BJP’s Mahila Morcha, today urged activists to campaign against the anti-women psyche of the Congress in the states ruled by the party where security of women even at the workplace had become a question of concern for voters.

Cong dares Dhumal on Bhakra Dam oustees
Bilaspur, October 29
District election observer of the Congress Kamal Kant Sharma, also a former Delhi Congress president, has challenged Chief Minister PK Dhumal to show if his government has solved any problem of lakhs of Bhakra Dam oustees in the district during his five-year term.

Asha Kumari like my daughter: Virbhadra
Dharamsala, October 29
HPCC chief Virbhadra Singh is out to reconcile with his former rivals. He has decided to play down the statement issued against him by AICC secretary and Congress candidate from Dalhousie Asha Kumari.

37% candidates never filed I-T returns
Shimla, October 29
As many as 163 (37%) of the 445 candidates in the fray, including many ‘crorepatis’, have declared that they have never filed income tax (I-T) returns. Among the 282 candidates who have been filing income tax returns, only two have income in excess of Rs 1 crore.

Free CFL scheme cost state govt Rs 80 cr: Congress
Shimla, October 29
All-India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Birender Singh today alleged that the Atal Bijli Bachat Scheme, under which compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) were given free of cost to the consumers to save energy, was a huge scam in which the state had incurred a loss of Rs 80 crore.

constituency watch
Four-way contest on the cards
Nahan: Dislodged from his traditional constituency Solan in delimitation, Rajeev Bindal, former Health Minister and Chief Minister PK Dhumal’s right-hand man, is making an all-out bid to find a foothold in Nahan, a seat the BJP has never won. He won from Solan thrice in a row, but the seat has been reserved for Scheduled Caste in delimitation.

         Rajnath Singh with Rajeev Bindal at a rally.

BJP faces royal challenge from Cong candidate
Banjar: For a JBT teacher-turned-politician, BJP MLA from Banjar, Khimi Ram, scoring a hat-trick in the hills of Banjar has become very difficult in these elections. He is facing the toughest battle of his life from his “old royal foe”, Karan Singh, the present scion of erstwhile Kullu state and a Congress candidate.

It’s anti-incumbency for BJP, rebel factor for Congress
Chamba: Chamba is all set to witness a triangular fight in the forthcoming Assembly elections. The absence of prominent Congress leader Harsh Mahajan from the campaigning after he refused party ticket and denial of the ticket to Raj Singh Thakur for whom Mahajan had lobbied hard for has affected the party’s support base.

Two-time Cong MLA takes on former student leader
Haroli: Two-time Congress MLA Mukesh Agnhotri is pitted against former ABVP leader and now BJP candidate Ram Kumar. Agnihotri was Chief Parliamentary Secretary in the previous Congress government. He is taking credit for many development schemes.

Rebel factor worries major parties
Arki: With both BJP and the Congress having failed to prevail upon the rebels to step out of the electoral battle, they are set to play spoilsport in the constituency which has the highest number of voters in the district.

HLP candidate may play spoilsport for main parties
Jaswan-Pragpur: Former legislator and BJP rebel Naveen Dhiman, now contesting on the Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) ticket, is aspiring to repeat history by winning from this constituency for the second time, riding on the sympathy factor. The presence of Dhiman in the electoral arena on the HLP ticket has changed political equations in the constituency, witnessing a keen triangular fight.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Shimla kids to persuade parents to cast vote
Shimla, October 24
With a miserably low voter registration figure of 50 per cent, the district administration has sought the help of schoolchildren in the state capital to persuade their parents to cast their vote and not relax at home on the polling day, which happens to be a Sunday.

Constituency watch: mandi
Sukh Ram’s son faces multi-cornered contest
Mandi: A dairy inspector-turned-politician, Congress MLA Anil Sharma is still cashing in on the legacy of his father Sukh Ram, a five-time Mandi MLA and three-time Mandi MP.

Rampur
Ex-IAS, ex-IPS officers contest in Cong citadel
Rampur: The electoral fight has taken an interesting turn with the ruling BJP fielding former IAS officer Prem Singh Drek to challenge former IPS officer and sitting MLA Nand Lal in this Congress stronghold.

Jwalamukhi
Formidable challenge for three-time MLA
Jwalamukhi: Securing the ticket from his home turf was nothing less than a battle for Food and Civil Supplies Minister Ramesh Dhawala. The struggle is far  from over as he is facing a  formidable challenge from an old opponent, who now has the stamp of the Congress.

Jawali
Rebel may make it tough for BJP candidate
Jawali: The sitting Congress MLA from Guler, Neeraj Bharti, is facing a new BJP candidate, Arjun Singh, from this constituency. Guler constituency was scrapped in delimitation and most of its areas are now a part of Jawali. Bharti is relying heavily on the support of his father, Chander Kumar, former Kangra MP, to ensure his victory. Guler was considered the bastion of Chander Kumar, a prominent OBC leader.

HLP trashes BJP manifesto
Shimla, October 24
The Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) has claimed that it does not matter what the BJP party has promised in its manifesto as it had failed to implement its 2007 manifesto. Citing several examples from the earlier manifesto, senior HLP leader Khushi Ram Balnatah said the electorate must take notice that the BJP had cheated them by not fulfilling its earlier promises. Not even half of the promises were implemented over the past five years. Worse was that despite that it was trying to sell more dreams which not many would buy, he claimed.

gagret
Rebels may play spoilsport for major parties
Gagret: This constituency has 10 candidates, the maximum in the district. The main contest is between Congress candidate Rakesh Kalia and BJP candidate Sushil Kalia, but rebels of both parties may play spoilsport. Both belong to the Brahmin community and are contesting from the constituency for the first time as it was put in the open category in delimitation after being reserved for the Scheduled Caste category for several decades.

‘Dham’ to prove costly for candidates
Dharamsala, October 24
Organising ‘dham’ (community meal) for supporters will prove costly for candidates. The Election Commission (EC) has decided to impose Rs 36 per person as costs to candidates organising ‘dham’ for supporters during elections. The costs will be added to the election expenditure of candidates.

Detractors tarnishing my image: Chandel
Bilaspur, October 24
Jitender Chandel, member, state Congress Committee, who has rebelled and is standing as an Independent candidate from the Bilaspur Sadar constituency against official candidate Bambar Thakur, has alleged that some of his detractors are conspiring to tarnish his image and get mileage in the elections.

More than 3 lakh to cast vote in Sirmaur dist
Solan, October 24
As many as 3,12,135 voters will exercise their franchise in the five Assembly segments of Sirmaur district comprising 1,44, 237 women and 3,12, 35 men. District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Padam Singh Chauhan said the Nahan constituency had the highest number of 67,890 voters, while Shillai had the lowest number at 57,549.

Hi-tech pre-poll voting for staff held
Chamba, October 24
The hi-tech pre-poll voting has been conducted today at Chamba for the officials who have been deployed to carry out the poll duties of the forthcoming state Assembly elections.

EC allows more documents to prove voter identity
Hamirpur, October 24
The Election Commission has allowed 14 other documents to prove identity of a voter in addition to the photo identity card.

Cong heading towards victory: Zahida
Chamba, October 24
All-India Congress Committee (Women Wing) general secretary Zahida Khan said there was an undercurrent wave in favour of the Congress in Himachal and the party was heading towards victory.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Cong, BJP manifestos, an exercise in competitive populism
Shimla, October 23
The release of manifestos during the run-up to the Assembly poll has over the years become a political ritual, which is not taken seriously by the electorate.

Shimla, Una DCs shifted
Shimla, October 23
The state government today transferred Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of Shimla and Una, who are also the district returning officers, midway during the Assembly elections.

Cong MLAs against state’s interests, says minister
Dharamsala, October 23
Minister for Industries and BJP candidate from Dharamsala Kishan Kapoor said today that Congress legislators had worked against the interests of Himachal. While addressing a press conference here today, Kapoor said after the UPA government finished the industrial package in the state, the state Assembly adopted a resolution urging the Centre to extend the industrial package in the state to 2020.

Kishan Kapoor

Jaitley seeks SIT probe into Ispat case
Shimla, October 23
The woes of beleaguered HPCC chief Virbhadra Singh multiplied further with Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley demanding a probe by a special investigation team (SIT) into the VBS files case in the wake of fresh “clinching and corroborating evidence” that had surfaced over the past two days linking the alleged Ispat pay-offs with investments made in financial instruments by him.

Arun Jaitley

Information based on imagination: Virbhadra
Shimla, October 23
Expressing shock over the details of his Income Tax (I-T) returns published in a section of the media, state Congress chief Virbhadra Singh said today that incorrect information was being carried out to create confusion in the public to divert his attention from the election campaign.

HPCC chief Virbhadra Singh addresses a rally in Ani on Tuesday.

CM running state as family business: Anand Sharma
Badaran (Hamirpur), October 23
Union Commerce and Industries Minister Anand Sharma has accused Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal of running a “baap-beta and sasur government” in the state.

Dhumal demands inquiry against Virbhadra
Dharamsala, October 23
Chief Minister PK Dhumal today demanded a probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the allegedly amended Income Tax (I-T) returns of Virbhadra Singh. Dhumal was on a campaigning spree in Kangra district today. While talking to mediapersons at Shahpur, he said Virbhadra filed revised I-T returns for the past three financial years in which his agriculture income rose from six times to 30 times.

PK Dhumal 

BJP expels 10 rebels
Shimla, October 23
The BJP today expelled 10 rebels who had entered the electoral fray against the official candidates.

constituency watch
Mankotia’s charisma versus Sarveen’s hard work
Shahpur : This constituency is being keenly observed as the political career of former Congress minister and maverick leader Vijai Singh Mankotia is at stake. A month before elections were announced, Mankotia was carrying out his tirade against Virbhadra Singh, against whom he had released an audio CD that became the basis of a corruption case against the former Chief Minister.

Vijai Singh Mankotia addresses a rally.

BJP man in cash-for-query scam returns
Bilaspur: It is a desperate battle for political rehabilitation that BJP’s three-time MP Suresh Chandel is waging from this constituency after remaining in political wilderness for the last six years in the aftermath of the cash-for-query revelations that had rocked the nation.

Tough fight for sitting legislator
Reckong Peo: The old Hindustan-Tibet Road is bumpy beyond Wangtu and so is the ride of the BJP candidate and sitting Kinnaur legislator Tejwant Singh Negi. He has to contend with a party rebel, Chet Ram Negi, in addition to anti-incumbency.

Sole Cong MLA in dist eyes hat-trick
Nadaun: The lone Congress MLA in the district, Sukhvinder Singh, better known as Sukhu, is locked in a triangular contest. Sukhu is known for electioneering skill and maintaining clout in the Congress and among the electorate. He had sprung a surprise by winning in 2003.

Old rivals take on each other again
Sarkaghat: Inder Singh of the BJP is facing a tough fight while old warhorse Rangila Ram Rao of the Congress is riding on the shoulders of his mentor Virbhadra Singh to revive his political fortunes. Inder Singh managed to break Rao’s citadel, then Gopalpur, in 2007.

Small parties head to the hills
Mandi, October 23
In a bid to get recognition or political bargaining power, ambitious nondescript parties and regional outfits have headed to the state to strike deals with state fronts. A recent example is the Samast Bharatiya Party (SBP), which has struck an alliance with the Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP), led by Maheshwar Singh.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

New Cong candidate faces 3-time BJP MLA
Badsar: The main contest in this constituency, earlier Nadaunta, in Hamirpur district is between BJP candidate Baldev Sharma and Congress candidate Inder Dutt Lakhanpal. While Baldev Sharma is in the fray for the fourth time after registering three consecutive wins, the Congress candidate is a new entrant.

Sonia gets rousing reception in Mandi
Mandi, October 22
In a gesture to mobilise the masses for the Assembly elections, AICC president Sonia Gandhi today mesmerised the Congress Vishal Jan Sabha Rally crowd when she stepped down from the high-security dais after her attacking speech and went round the historic Paddal Maidan synergising supporters.

BJP releases ‘appease-all’ manifesto
Shimla, October 22
Having adopted the tactical approach of “appease all”, the BJP, in its election manifesto released here today, promised to provide free induction plates to every household to reduce dependence on LPG, enhancement of daily wages from Rs 150 to Rs 250, hike in social security pension from Rs 450 to Rs 650 and jobs for 10 lakh unemployed.

Shanta Kumar shakes hands with PK Dhumal after the release of the election manifesto of the BJP in Shimla on Monday. Photo: Amit Kanwar

Retire or BJP doors closed forever, Shanta warns rebels
Shimla, October 22
National BJP vice-president Shanta Kumar today said the party rebels who refused to retire from the contest would be expelled from the party not just for six years, but forever.

CM’s son refutes Virbhadra’s allegation
Hamirpur, October 22
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal’s younger son Arun Dhumal has refuted Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Virbhadra Singh’s allegation of buying benami land at Kasauli in name of Jaswant Singh.

24-hour toll-free helpline for poll info
Bilaspur, October 22
A toll-free telephone No. 1800-180-8021 has been set up in the 24-hour control room under the “General Assistant” to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) here for giving or asking any election-related information or complaint in the town from across the district.

Dasehra festivities up political heat in Kullu
Kullu, October 22
The divine political tremor has upped the political heat in the “valley of gods”, which is gearing up for the week-long international Kullu Dasehra festival at the historic Dhalpur Maidan here from October 24.

Cong copied BJP’s earlier manifesto: Dhumal 
Bilaspur, October 22
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has said the Congress manifesto was just a copy of the BJP manifesto of the earlier Assembly elections, which had already been implemented by the BJP government in toto. It proves that the Congress has lost its grip over developments, which have happened here during the past five years, apart from it having not a single leader with vision, imagination and practical sense of knowing the present problems of the state.

Voter awareness drive begins 
Chamba, October 22
To ensure greater participation of people in the electoral process of the Assembly elections, the Zila Saaksharta Samitti (ZSS) has kicked off a voter literacy and awareness drive under the aegis of the National Literacy Mission this week.

More women exercise franchise in state than men
Shimla, October 22
Women may have been lagging behind in the electoral arena, but they have overtaken men in exercising their right to franchise. It has taken eight Assembly elections and over three decades for hill women to outdo their men counterparts in the polling arena.

Monday, October 22, 2012

What the voter is talking about
Both parties bring it up — at own peril
CORRUPTION
The perception of pandemic corruption has touched a raw nerve with the common man across the country. Such is the flurry of allegations in Himachal, that the voter is hard pressed even deciding which party is relatively clean.

More song and dance than learning
PRIVATE VARSITIES
The BJP government set out to make the hill state a hub of higher education, but what prevails today is academic anarchy caused by the ‘indiscriminate’ opening of private institutions of doubtful credentials, without assessing the requirement.

Decision more political than administrative
NEW DISTRICTS
Dharamsala: Carving out new districts from Kangra, the biggest district in the state in terms of population and number of Assembly constituencies, remained a hot issue through the last year of the BJP government.

Shanta to focus on Kangra, Chamba
Shimla, October 18
Having kept himself aloof from party affairs for over two years, Bharatiya Janata Party national vice-president and Rajya Sabha member Shanta Kumar is keen to keep himself confined to campaigning in Kangra and Chamba districts.

Sonia, Manmohan, Rahul to campaign
Shimla, October 18
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, party general secretary Rahul Gandhi and several other leaders will campaign for the party during the ensuing Assembly elections.

Cong chief to visit Kangra on Oct 22
Kangra: All-India Congress Committee (AICC) chief Sonia Gandhi will visit Kangra town on October 22 to address a public meeting in support of Congress candidates of this region in the local municipal stadium.

Virbhadra raps govt over IFS promotions
Solan, October 18
State Congress chief Virbhadra Singh today lambasted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for ‘burdening’ the state exchequer by ‘unduly’ elevating Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers and creating four additional posts of Chief Secretary compared to one during his previous tenure.




State Congress chief Virbhadra Singh addresses a rally at Solan on Thursday.

Dhumal attacks Virbhadra, PM
Mandi, October 18
Chief Minister PK Dhumal today attacked state Congress president Virbhadra Singh and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, blaming them for ‘corruption’ in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime, price rise and ‘discrimination’ against Himachal Pradesh.

Vidya Stokes files papers
Shimla, October 17
Leader of the Opposition Vidya Stokes was among the 24 candidates who filed their nomination papers today in Shimla district.
Vidya Stokes

BJP swings into action to woo rebels
Shimla, October 17
With a large number of rebels, especially in Kangra, jumping into the election arena, the top brass of the BJP has swung into action to persuade them to withdraw their nomination in favour of the official nominee.

Shanta tells BJP rebels to withdraw
Palampur, October 17
Shanta Kumar, national vice-president of the BJP, today appealed to BJP rebels in the state to withdraw from the Assembly elections immediately otherwise the party would not hesitate to initiate disciplinary action against them.
Shanta Kumar

Dhumal’s assets total to over Rs 13 lakh
Hamirpur, October 17
Chief Minister PK Dhumal owns total assets of Rs 13,39,281 which includes moveable, immoveable assets and self-purchased land, while his wife Sheila Dhumal has total assets of Rs 55,13,611, as per the details submitted with his nomination papers yesterday before the returning officer.

Virbhadra must quit politics till he comes clean: BJP
Shimla, October 17
The ruling BJP today demanded that state Congress chief Virbhadra Singh should set an example by retiring from politics till he gets a clean chit in the latest kickbacks controversy to which his name is being linked.

Virbhadra’s family assets over Rs 30 crore
Shimla, October 17
The family assets of five-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh are worth over Rs 30 crore.

More candidates file nominations on last day
Dharamsala, October 17
President, Municipal Council, Dharamsala, Kamla Patial today filed her papers as an Independent from Dharamsala, turning the contest here from bipolar to triangular.

Dhumal, 19 others file nomination papers
Hamirpur, October 16
With the beginning of the Navratras, 20 candidates filed their nomination papers in the district today. Chief Minister PK Dhumal and Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate Anil Mankotia filed their papers from Hamirpur. Education Minister Ishwar Dass Dhiman his covering candidate Bachiter Singh, Pawan Kumar of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and Krishan Chand (Independent) filed their papers from Bhoranj.
Chief Minister PK Dhumal submits his nomination papers in Hamirpur on Tuesday.

Wrong form puts Cong candidates in trouble
Dharamsala, October 16
Wrong nomination forms sent by the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) had many Congress candidates in trouble today. Congress candidates had to submit two forms to returning officers.

HP Cong chief ready for probe over ISPAT
Dharamsala, October 16
State Congress president Virbhadra Singh addressed a political rally to seek support for Sudhir Sharma, the party candidate from Dharamsala, at Dari village today.

Awasthy, Sehzal file nominations
Solan, October 16
With the advent of Navratras, the process of filing nominations began in Solan today.

Cong hits back at Jaitley
Shimla, October 16
Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of launching a smear campaign against Virbhadra Singh, the Congress has alleged that senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley is adopting double standard while targeting the state Congress chief.

Cong, BJP leaders file papers
Nurpur, October 16
Ajay Mahajan of the Congress and covering candidate Sat Pal Gupta filed their papers from Nurpur today.

23 file nominations in Shimla
Shimla, October 16
The filing of nomination papers by candidates from various political parties, including the Congress, BJP, CPM, BSP, TMC and NCP, suddenly picked up with the start of the auspicious period of Navratras today.

Bali, Kapoor file papers
Dharamsala, October 16
Many senior leaders filed their nomination papers in the district today. GS Bali of the Congress and party rebel Arun Mehra filed their papers from Nagrota Bagwan.

6 file papers in Kangra
Kangra, October 16
BJP and Congress rebels may play spoilsport in the upcoming elections. BJP candidate Sanjay Choudhary, Congress candidate Surender Kaku, BJP rebel Pawan Kajal, Congress rebel Rajesh Sharma, Aman Guleria (CPI) and Vijay Bhari (BSP) filed their papers. — OC

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Virbhadra for Sudhir from Dharamsala
Dharamsala, October 12
State Congress chief Virbhadra Singh has come out openly in favour of his loyalists Sudhir Sharma and Sanjay Rattan, whose constituencies were changed by the party high command yesterday.

State’s economy shattered, claims HPCC chief
Kangra, October 12
State Congress chief Virbhadra Singh today criticised the PK Dhumal-led government for ‘failure on all fronts’ and lambasted it for false cases against him as part of its ‘victimisation policy’.




Virbhadra Singh addresses a public rally at Kholi near Kangra on Friday. Photo: Kamaljeet

Ticket change hits Congress campaign
Dharamsala, October 12
Though the Congress yesterday changed its candidates from Dharamsala and Jwalamukhi, the suspense over conformity of change continued throughout the day today.

Dhumal says voters will ensure Virbhadra’s exit
Shimla, October 12
Chief Minister PK Dhumal said today that the electorate of the Shimla (rural) constituency will certainly fulfil his wishes of retiring from politics by ensuring his defeat.


Prem Kumar Dhumal with his supporters during a public meeting in Shimla on Friday. Photo: Amit Kanwar

Cong to use statements of Shanta, Sushant for poll
Dharamsala, October 12
The Congress will use statements issued by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national vice-president Shanta Kumar and Kangra Member of Parliament Rajan Sushant against the state government in its election campaign.

Change ticket or face mass resignation, Cong told
Mandi, October 12
The voices of dissent in the Seraj Congress became louder today as two ticket seekers Prof Vir Singh Chauhan and Chet Ram Thakur, Congress block president, and their supporters today gave two-day ultimatum to the party high command to change the ticket or face mass resignation.

Congress to woo rebels
Nurpur, October 12
The Congress is all set to check the threat of rebellion in the party following the ticket allotment. Virbhadra Singh has said all efforts will be made to persuade rebels to fall in line and honour the party’s decision.


Virbhadra Singh addresses a press conference in Nurpur. Photo by writer

One-Rank-One-Pension
Cong, BJP eye ex-servicemen’s support
Hamirpur, October 12
One-rank-one-pension for ex-servicemen has been a very significant and emotional issue during the past few elections in the state and both Congress and BJP are preparing to use this issue to win support of ex-servicemen and their families in the coming Assembly elections.

‘Crorepatis’ dominate the House
Shimla, October 12
Himachal Pradesh may have been a poor state bestowed with a “special” category status, but its elected representatives are not.

The heat is on: Traffic jams and spontaneous micro-rallies by contestants are already the order of the day in Himachal. Seen here, a street meeting at Boileauganj in Shimla on Friday. Photo: Amit Kanwar

Dhumal mollifies Nachan MLA
Shimla, October 12
The top brass of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has stepped up efforts to douse the flames of rebellion, with Chief Minister PK Dhumal today achieving partial success as he managed to mollify Nachan legislator Dile Ram. Former Rajya Sabha member Kripal Parmar remained firm on his demand for the ticket from Dehra.

Sudha Sushant to contest as Independent
Nurpur, October 12
The BJP will face another rebel in the Fatehpur Assembly segment in lower Kangra district after denial of the party ticket to Sudha Sushant, a strong ticket contender and wife of suspended Kangra BJP MP Rajan Sushant.

CPI announces 7 candidates
Solan, October 12
The Communist Party of India (CPI) announced seven candidates today. They are Krishan Kumar Kaushal from Naina Devi, Aman Guleria from Kangra, Charan Dass from Nagrota Bagwan, Desh Raj from Mandi, Tilak Raj Bhardwaj from Dalhousie, Rattan Chand from Chamba and Karam Dass from Kasauli.

Cong ticket change baffles leaders
Dharamsala, October 11
The Congress has played musical chairs by changing candidates from three candidates in the politically important Kangra district.

Vote share percentage over 40 years For larger view click here

HLP eyes BJP, Cong rebels
Shimla, October 11
With a sizeable number of rebels from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress threatening to jump into the electoral fray, the Himachal Lok Morcha (HLM) is contemplating some changes in its earlier announced 33 candidates to rope in these leaders of stature to contest on its ticket.

BJP denies ticket to Roop Singh Thakur
Mandi/Sundernagar, October 11
The BJP has denied ticket to Roop Thakur, MLA from Sundernagar. As the news spread here, hundreds of annoyed workers assembled at Roop Singh’s residence. Roop Singh has represented Sundernagar six times.

For larger view click here

Pathania’s supporters raise slogans against Mankotia
Dharamsala, October 11
Though Vijai Singh Mankotia has got the Congress ticket from Shahpur, differences between him and Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Virbhadra Singh do not seem to have been fully ironed out.

BJP faces another rebel in Sarkaghat
Sarkaghat, October 11
While Amit Dhumal, nephew of Chief Minister PK Dhumal, withdrew from the electoral battle, KK Thakur, a former forest officer and a BJP ticket contender, today rebelled against party’s official candidate Col Inder Singh Thakur (retd), sitting Sarkaghat BJP MLA, and filed his nomination as an Independent.

Wife of Cong ex-minister to contest as Independent
Kullu, October 11
Prem Lata Thakur, a zila parishad member and wife of former Minister Satya Prakash Thakur, a Virbhadra Singh loyalist, today rebelled against Congress Kullu Sadar candidate Sunder Thakur and declared to contest as an Independent.

Chauhan quits as Chamba BJP chief
Dalhousie, October 11
Denied the ticket, Chamba district BJP chief Gp Capt (retd) Bhupender Chauhan has resigned and decided to plunge into the fray as an Independent from Bhattiyat, which is his home constituency.

Poll observers reach Hamirpur
Hamirpur, October 11
District Election Officer Rajender Singh Thakur said two expenditure observers reached here last evening.

HLM constituents to fight four ‘friendly contests’
Hamirpur, October 11
Himachal Lok Morcha (HLM) leaders have resolved to have ‘friendly contests’ among constituent parties on a few seats to keep the HLM united during the elections.

Results 2007
Results 2003

Of the total 45.16 lakh voters in the 2007 Assembly elections, there were 22.67 lakh women.

BJP issues list of candidates
Shimla, October 10
The ruling BJP today issued its final list of candidates, denying the ticket to five sitting legislators and fielding seven women, with former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar having the final say on the contentious issue of ticket allotment in Dehra, which was proving to be the main stumbling block in finalisation of ticket in Kangra.

Rebellion may mar prospects of BJP candidates
Shimla, October 10
The BJP finally managed to settle the issue of ticket allotment in Dehra and Jwalamukhi but not without creating another mess as Kripal Parmar, former Rajya Sabha MP and a strong contender for the ticket from Dehra, has decided to jump into the fray as an Independent to oppose IPH Minister Ravinder Ravi’s candidature.

Two nominations filed
Shimla, October 10
Only two candidates filed their nominations for the November 4 Assembly elections in the state on the first day. While Durga Dutt filed his nomination papers from the Mandi constituency as the BJP candidate, Nand Lal entered the fray from the Anni (SC) constituency as the Himachal Lokhit Party candidate.

Mandi Sadar BJP leader Shyam Lal resigns
Mandi, October 10
The BJP faced a fresh setback in Sundernagar and Mandi Sadar today as supporters of former Forest Minister and six-time BJP MLA from Sundernagar Roop Singh Thakur announced that the party had ditched him in the middle of his campaign. While Mandi Sadar mandal chief Shyam Lal today resigned from the party and decided to contest as an Independent against official candidate DD Thakur, who filed his nomination today.

Virbhadra’s brother-in-law opposes Cong candidate
Shimla, October 10
HPCC chief Virbhadra Singh, who managed to win over his arch rivals, including Vijay Mankotia, faced an awkward situation when his brother-in-law Vir Vikram Singh raised a banner of revolt against the party decision to give the ticket to Anirudh Singh from the Kasumpti seat.

Cong faces dissidence in Una, Kutlehar
Una, October 10
The Congress is facing dissidence in the Una and Kutlehar Assembly constituencies over the distribution of the party ticket. Local sources told The Tribune that former MLA from Una OP Rattan has stated that his supporters were urging him to contest as an Independent.

Cong leader’s appeal to high command
Paonta Sahib, October 10
Karnesh Jung from Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur district, who was denied the Congress ticket, today said he had appealed to the party high command to reconsider his candidature within two days.

Congress govt will be fair and lawful: Virbhadra
Chamba, October 10
The Congress will provide ‘fair and lawful’ government in the state soon after it is voted to power in the Assembly elections, former Chief Minister and HPCC chief Virbhadra Singh announced this while addressing a public meeting at Chamba town yesterday.

43 history sheeters rounded up in Kangra
Dharamsala, October 10
The Kangra police has rounded up 43 history sheeters in the district ahead of the Assembly elections.

Standing committee formed
Nurpur, October 10
Following a direction of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure enforcement of the model code of conduct in the Assembly elections, a Sub-Divisional Standing Committee was constituted here today. The local Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Rakesh Verma will lead this committee as its chairman.

24 Congress leaders resign
Kullu, October 10
As many as 24 Congress leaders, including Dharamvir Dhami, Devinder Negi, Kamla Prarthy, Anurag Prarthy, Naveen Tanvar and Prem Sharma, today resigned from the primary membership of the party in protest against allotment of ticket to first timer Bhuvneshwar Gaur from Manali.

Vungzamuan, Meena are observers for Sirmour
Nahan, October 10
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed Valte Vungzamuan and Sumer Singh Meena as expenditure observers for Sirmour district.

List of constituencies
These are Assembly constituencies as they were till the 2007 elections. For the 2012 polls, there has been a fresh delimitation. 1. Kinnaur (ST) 2. Rampur (SC) 3. Rohru 4. Jubbal-Kotkhai 5. Chopal 6. Kumarsain 7. Theog 8. Shimla 9. Kasumpti (SC) 10.

Chief Ministers thus far
1951-1956: Dr Y.S.Parmar

Cong, BJP candidates face rebellion in Bilaspur
Bilaspur, October 9
The Congress is facing rebellion on all four seats of this district on the distribution of ticket in Bilaspur Sadar, Jhandutta, Ghumarwin and Kot Kehloor while the position of the BJP is no better.

Virbhadra has no confidence in state employees: Dhumal Una, October 9 Chief Minister PK Dhumal today flayed Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Virbhadra Singh for doubting the credentials of the bureaucracy in the state. Chief Minister PK Dhumal addresses mediapersons in Una on Tuesday.

Police chiefs yet to identify history sheeters
Mandi, October 9
There are about 1,000 history sheeters and “criminals with personal files, who are pressed into service to lure flexible voters in vulnerable sections by cash and kind in the state”.

BJP govt most corrupt: Rattan Kangra, October 9 The Congress candidate from Jwalamukhi, Sanjay Rattan, was today accorded a rousing reception at the Nadaun bridge on his arrival in Jwalamukhi today. He reached the Nadaun bridge this morning. Congress candidate Sanjay Rattan is received by supporters in Jwalamukhi on Tuesday. Photo by writer

Congress makes efforts to recapture Arki seat
Solan, October 9
Sanjay Awasthy, Congress nominee from the Arki constituency, began his poll campaign after receiving a rousing welcome at Gamber Pul and other parts of the constituency.

Congress ticket seekers threaten to resign
Kullu, October 9
Ticket contenders Dharamvir Dhami and Devinder Negi today revolted against first-timer Bhuvneshwar Gaur from Manali and Satya Prakash rebelled against another first-timer Sunder Thakur from Kullu Sadar.

Balnatah quits BJP, to contest on HLP ticket from Kasumpti
Shimla, October 9
Putting an end to his two-year feud with Chief Minister PK Dhumal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator from Rohru, Khushi Ram Balnatah, today finally bid adieu to the ruling party, with which he remained associated since his college days four decades ago.

16 polling booths hyper sensitive
Palampur, October 9
The Election Commission (EC) has indentified 16 polling stations as hyper sensitive and 20 as sensitive in Palampur and Sulah constituencies of this sub-division. Addressing a press conference here today, Bhupinder Attari, SDM, Palampur-cum-Assistant Returning Officer, told mediapersons that in the Sulaha constituency 11 polling stations were Drang, Dheera-1, Nanao, Maranda-1, Dehan-1, Sulaha-1, Khera-1, Talinu, Purbha, Bhuwana and Thural-1 were declared hyper sensitive.

Ensure compliance with model code of conduct, parties told
Mandi, October 9
The 8,423 arms licence holders in the district have been directed to deposit their arms. In addition, video surveillance teams, flying squads and static nakas will videograph party rally venues.

Denied Congress ticket, women aspirants upset
Hamirpur, October 9
After the announcement of Congress candidates, women ticket aspirants are upset over their claims having being ignored. Though more than 50 women had applied, only four were allotted the ticket.

Only 32 women won in 12 Assembly elections!
Shimla, October 9
As far as the involvement of women in politics in Himachal Pradesh is concerned, it has mainly remained the domain of women hailing from families of erstwhile rulers or members of established political families, with only a few being able to make it on their own without a launchpad.

Former BJP candidate Brij Lal joins Congress
Shimla, October 9
Perturbed at the denial of the party ticket, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Rampur in the last Assembly elections, Brij Lal, today quit the party and joined the Congress.

Refrain from taking bribe during poll, says DC
Hamirpur, October 9
District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner (DC), Hamirpur, Rajinder Singh Thakur said as per Section 171-B, IPC, any person giving or accepting any gratification in cash or kind during the Assembly elections, with a view to induce any person to exercise his electoral right, is a punishable offence with a provision of imprisonment up to one year and fine or both.

Congress rebel Rajesh to contest as Independent
Dharamsala, October 9
A Congress leader from Kangra, Dr Rajesh Sharma, has announced his candidature as an Independent after being denied the party ticket. Addressing a press conference here today, Rajesh said he had been working in the constituency for the last five years, during which he toured all 45 villages in the constituency, but the party denied him the ticket.

Remove hoardings, images of Central schemes, EC urged
Shimla, October 9
Raising questions over the decision of the Election Commission to ban use of carry bags bearing image of Atal Bihari Vajpayee for subsidised ration, the BJP today demanded removal of all hoardings and photographs of the MNREGA, the Bharat Nirman and other centrally sponsored schemes.

Nandini begins Cong campaign in Dalhousie
Dalhousie, October 9
Former minister and secretary of the All-India Congress Committee Asha Kumari, who has been allotted Congress party ticket for contesting from the Dalhousie Assembly constituency, has kicked off electioneering.

Denial of ticket to Tulsi Ram triggers revolt in BJP
Chamba, October 9
The denial of the party ticket to veteran BJP leader and Vidhan Sabha Speaker Tulsi Ram from Bharmour has led to a revolt in the party. In a meeting at Tulsi Ram’s residence in Paroudi village yesterday, a large number of workers criticised the decision to deny the ticket to Tulsi Ram and allot it to Jia Lal.

CPM wants CBI probe into DLF project
Shimla, October 9
The CPM today sought a CBI probe into the BJP-Congress-DLF connection with regard to a housing project in the state. Member, state CPM secretariat, Tikender Panwar said today that the BJP government had awarded the DLF to construct apartments in the green belt of the Kanlog area under Samatara Apartments.

Jwalamukhi block Congress president threatens to resign
Dharamsala, October 8
After Dehra, the Congress is facing dissidence in Jwalamukhi, where block Congress president Nardev Kanwar has threatened to resign along with his supporters in case the party does not reconsider the decision to allot the party ticket to Sanjay Rattan.

BJP misleading voters, says Cong candidate
Bilaspur, October 8
Bumber Thakur, former Congress state secretary and Congress candidate from the Bilaspur Sadar constituency, has declared that he will file his nomination papers on October 17. He has already started his election campaign for the past one month under which he has covered 34 panchayats of the area.

BJP under pressure to decide 12 candidates
Shimla, October 8
With the Congress releasing its complete list of 68 candidates, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is under pressure to take a final call on 12 candidates.

No comment on CD issue: Mankotia
Dharamsala, October 8
Vijay Singh Mankotia, who recently rejoined the Congress, today arrived in Shahpur and started his campaign. He got a rousing welcome from his supporters. All Congress leaders from Shahpur except Kewal Singh Pathania, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) delegate from the area, were present to welcome him.

Residents welcome Independent candidate
Hamirpur, October 8
Rajinder Rana, president of the Sarav Kalyankari Sabha, who is all set to contest as an Independent from the Sujanpur Assembly constituency got a warm reception on reaching here today.



Rajinder Rana being welcomed by people at Chauki in Hamirpur on Monday. A Tribune photograph

BJP leader to contest as Independent
Bilaspur, October 8
Rakesh Chopra, a prominent BJP leader and vice-president of Ghumarwin Nagar Parishad, near here, has declared that he will file his papers as an Independent from the Ghumarwin seat.

CPI-CPM rally exposes chinks in HLM
Mandi, October 8
Fissures have appeared in the Himachal Lokhit Morcha (HLM) ahead of poll as its constituents the CPI and the CPM today took out a procession in support of CPI candidate from Mandi Sadar Des Raj and CPM candidate from Balh Paras Ram.

2 women in fray from Solan
Solan, October 8
With Sheila Kumari bagging the BJP ticket for the Solan constituency, the total number of women candidates contesting in the district has reached two.

‘No development in Dhumal’s regime’
Hamirpur, October 8
Congress candidate for the Hamirpur constituency Narinder Thakur was welcomed by party workers from Ukhali to Hamirpur at different places on reaching here today. Thakur, who reached Hamirpur in a road show later, addressed a meeting here.

Shift BJP-affiliated officers,
Shimla, October 8
Not satisfied with the shifting of a Deputy Commissioner and a Superintendent of Police, HPCC chief Virbhadra Singh has urged Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) VS Sampath to remove all the officers having affiliation with the BJP who had been given choicest postings with an eye on the Assembly poll.

Complaint filed against BJP candidate
Solan, October 8
A complaint has been filed against BJP’s Solan candidate Sheila Kumari by a villager, Rajkumar Chandel, where her Scheduled Caste (SC) status has been challenged. Chandel, a resident of Kaman village, has alleged that Sheila Kumari had changed her caste status from the earlier general category to SC to obtain undue benefits in education and politics.

CPI seeks support for Third Front
Sundernagar, October 8
The Communist Party of India (CPI) has said it will go to people of Himachal Pradesh and urge them to defeat both the BJP and the Congress in the forthcoming Assembly elections and give support to the Third Front.

Denied ticket, Cong MLA to contest as Independent
Dharamsala, October 7
After being denied the party ticket, the Congress MLA from Pragpur, Yog Raj, has announced his decision to contest the Assembly elections from Dehra as an Independent.

Pathania begins poll campaign
Nurpur, October 7
Rakesh Pathania today started his election campaign by addressing half a dozen corner meetings in Hatli, Jawalan and Milkh panchayats.

Probe Vadra’s property in HP, Shanta asks Kejriwal
Dharamsala, October 7
The national vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shanta Kumar, has written to Arvind Kejriwal to probe the property acquired by Robert Vadra in Himachal Pradesh.

Ticket denial: Nachan block BJP members resign
Sundernagar, October 7
Annoyed over the denial of the BJP ticket to Mandi district unit president Dile Ram, the Nachan block of the BJP resigned en masse today.




Nachan MLA Dile Ram addresses supporters on Sunday. Photo by writer

HLM’s Des Raj stakes claim to ticket
Mandi, October 7
A former state secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and a member of the core committee of the Himachal Lok Morcha (HLM) at present, Des Raj, has staked claim to the Mandi Sadar ticket.

BJP rebels can pose problems in Sirmaur
Nahan, October 7
Even as the BJP has declared its candidates for all five seats in Sirmaur district, the emergence of rebels in at least two seats can upset its calculations. The BJP enhanced its tally to two after its victory in last year’s by-election.

BJP ex-MLA threatens to contest as Independent
Shimla, October 7
A former MLA and contender for the BJP ticket from Kinnaur, Chet Ram has threatened to contest as an Independent if the party gives the ticket to sitting legislator Tejwant Negi.

Rebels may cost Congress dear in Badsar, Bhoranj
Hamirpur, October 7
Containing rebels in the Badsar and Bhoranj Assembly constituencies in Hamirpur district in the forthcoming elections will be a challenge for state Congress leaders in view of many aspirants and the past record of rebellion.

Ex-pradhan to contest as Independent
Dharamsala, October 7
Former Khaniyara panchayat pradhan Amar Dass Sharma, alias Nikku Parohat, has announced his decision to contest as an Independent from Dharamsala.

Congress, BJP busy in politics of convenience: HLP
Solan, October 7
The Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) has said both the BJP and the Congress are indulging in the politics of convenience and fooling the masses.

2,75,129 can cast vote in Bilaspur
Bilaspur, October 7
A total of 2,75,129 voters can cast votes in all four Assembly segments of this district on November 4 through 351 polling booths and 530 EVMs here in the district. This was stated by District Election Officer (DEO)-cum-Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ritesh Chauhan while talking to mediapersons here recently. He said strict watch would be kept on the expenditure of all candidates through a number of mechanisms and no candidate could legally spend more than Rs 11 lakh in this election.

Restrictions on printing election material
Chamba, October 7
The Election Commission has imposed restrictions on the printing and publication of election-related pamphlets and posters under Section 127-A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Cash above Rs 2.5 lakh to be monitored
Shimla, October 5
Any person carrying undisclosed cash will be kept under close surveillance and necessary action will be taken under provisions of Income Tax Act, 1961, as per instructions of the Election Commission.

MLA’s supporters protest, demand ticket for his son
Nurpur, October 5
Supporters of Indora MLA Des Raj of the BJP took out a protest rally at Dahkulara yesterday to secure the party ticket for his son Nirmal Prashad.


Supporters of Indora MLA Des Raj take out a rally at Dahkulara in Nurpur. Photo: Rajiv Mahajan

Virbhadra guided by personal interest: Satti
Shimla, October 5
State BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti today accused Virbhadra Singh of being guided solely by his personal political interest and not bothering for protecting the interest of the state while he was the Chief Minister and the Union Minister.

Mankotia set to rejoin Virbhadra
Shimla, October 4
In an unexpected development, former minister Vijay Singh Mankotia is set for yet another homecoming. The flamboyant leader, who shares a love-hate relationship with Virbhadra Singh, has been camping in Delhi for the last few days and has had a series of parleys with Central leaders of the Congress.

BSP to contest all 68 segments
Shimla, October 4
Having won one seat from Kangra in the last Assembly elections in 2007, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) plans to field candidates from all the 68 Assembly segments in the polls with no electoral alliance with anyone.

EC to appoint observers for candidates’ expenditure
Shimla, October 4
Chief Electoral Officer Narender Chauhan today said the Election Commission (EC) had issued instructions for candidates to open a separate bank account to monitor poll expenditure.

Monitoring of expenditure, paid news to be strict
Shimla, October 4
Deputy Commissioner Arun Sharma today said preventing paid news and strict monitoring of expenditure would be the main concerns during the upcoming Assembly elections and a number of committees had been set up for the purpose.




Deputy Commissioner Arun Sharma (right) addresses mediapersons in Shimla on Thursday.

BJP’s final list this weekend
New Delhi, October 4
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today postponed the final meeting of the Parliamentary Party Board to take a call on candidates for the remaining 23 constituencies in the state. The party had declared candidates for 45 constituencies.

BJP to study Gujarat, MP, Chhattisgarh documents
Shimla, October 4
With financial implications of enhancing retirement age of employees and granting unemployment allowance to the jobless coming in the way of such populist promises featuring in the election manifesto, the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will take a leaf from the document prepared by the party in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to ensure a winning mantra.

52 hypersensitive, 141 sensitive polling booths identified
Chamba, October 4
With the announcement of the Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh by the Election Commission of India, the district administration has geared up for the smooth conduct of free and fair elections in Chamba district.

Women seek poll duty exemption on Karvachauth
Nurpur, October 4
The schedule announced by the Election Commission (EC) for the Assembly elections in the state has clashed the Karvachauth which falls on November 2.

BJP man for ticket to Ravi
Palampur, October 4
Local Block Development Committee Chairman Sanjiv Rana today appealed to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister PK Dhumal to consider Irrigation and Public Health Minister Ravinder Singh Ravi as candidate from Palampur.

State to witness whirlwind electioneering
Shimla, October 3
With the gap between the polling dates for Assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh almost 40 days, the top brass of the two main political players, the BJP and the Congress, will be able to concentrate on the hill state before shifting focus to the politically sensitive state headed by Narendra Modi.

Ban on carrying arms, ammunition
Hamirpur, October 3
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rajinder Singh Thakur has banned the carrying of arms and ammunition in the district from today till the completion of Assembly elections under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code. He said there would be a complete ban on the carrying of arms and ammunition during this period except for those on security duty.

Cong okays 46 candidates, final list likely by Oct 6
Shimla, October 3
The Screening Committee of the Congress headed by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, which met in New Delhi today, cleared candidates for 46 seats, but the final list would be announced only on October 6 after the meeting of the Central Election Committee.

Govt accused of failing to develop non-tribal areas
Dalhousie, October 3
Akhil Bharatiya Gaddi Janjatiya Vikas Samitti president Lalit Thakur has flayed the successive state governments for ignoring the non-tribal panchayats which fall in the Bharmour tribal Assembly constituency of Chamba.

BJP will form govt again, says Shanta
Palampur, October 3
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vice-president Shanta Kumar said here today that the BJP was fully prepared for Assembly elections and claimed that it would form the government again.

Model code of conduct in force
Mandi, October 3
With the model code of conduct coming into force from 4 pm today, candidates and political parties cannot use rest houses and public property and have to maintain expenditure registers with details of sources of income.