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.

The focus at the beginning was on corruption and price rise, with the BJP launching a well-planned and relentless attack on the spearhead of the Congress’ campaign, Virbhadra Singh, but the scenario changed dramatically once the murky details of alleged fake companies behind the business empire of BJP president Nitin Gadkari started unfolding. The aggressor was quickly put on the defensive. In between, the BJP think tank also realised that targeting Virbhadra Singh could also generate sympathy for the veteran leader and it changed the strategy midway to shift the focus to price rise. It used the cap on LPG subsidy as the weapon to whip the UPA regime, and promised free induction hotplates to woo the voters.

IT connect

With the parties switching over to SMS, email and other Internet-based means of communication to reach out to the electorate, the use of traditional modes like pamphlets, posters, buntings and banners was reduced considerably. The strict enforcement of the code of conduct, particularly the law to check the defacement of public places, also played a role. The hill state has the highest cell phone density and the political parties have been virtually bombarding mobile users with uninterrupted streams of SMS. Candidates have also made good use of social networking sites such as Facebook by regularly updating their status and sending poll messages.

Known for his progressive outlook, BJP stalwart Narendra Modi demonstrated how to make the best use of the Internet. His team uploaded videos of his speeches on YouTube within minutes. He was clearly a step ahead of others, including his BJP colleagues. Most of the parties like the BJP, Congress, CPM, TMC, HLP and the NCP, and even individual candidates, have been sending picture of their rallies and press notes through email. The main parties have also launched an advertisement blitzkrieg in the electronic and print media.

Stars and budgets

The opposition Congress seemed short of resources compared to the ruling BJP on almost all fronts, including services of ‘star campaigners’. The BJP had more star campaigners, election meetings and road shows. Besides Modi, its array of star campaigners included L.K. Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari, Smriti Irani, Rajnath Singh, Prakash Singh Badal and Vinod Khanna. The main burden of the campaign was shouldered by Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal and Shanta Kumar. Arun Jaitley specially came to address a press conference to target Virbhadra Singh.

Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi led the Congress team of star campaigners and both of them spent two days each in the state. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressed a solitary meeting at Una. PCC chief Virbhadra Singh was the main campaigner covering almost all 68 constituencies. Union minister Anand Sharma also addressed a number of meetings. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna addressed a few meetings in Solan and Sirmour districts. AICC general secretary Birender Singh also campaigned, while Pawan Bansal and Ghulam Nabi Azad interacted with the media and former Punjab minister Surinder Singla camped at Shimla to counter the issues raised by the BJP.

The CPM, which is contesting 15 seats as part of the Himachal Lok Morcha (HLM), also brought its national leaders Suhasini Ali, Brinda Karat and Sitaram Yechuri, who held a series of meetings and road shows in support of party candidates. However, the Himachal Lokhit Party, a breakaway BJP group and main constituent of the HLM, had to bank on its local leadership.

Despite hectic campaigning, the response of the electorate remained subdued and the crowds compared to past on the lower side and, more importantly, not very enthusiastic. It reflects the growing disappointment among people with the politicians, increasingly being seen as the fountain of corruption more than harbingers of development.

Besides the major parties like the BJP, Congress, HLP and the CPM, new entrants like Trinamool Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party also released their manifestos with much fanfare.

The highest ever number of 12 national and regional parties are in the fray and, not surprisingly, the number of 459 contestants is also the highest ever. However, no party has obliged the fairer sex, and there are only 27 women candidates. In fact, the number has come down from 7 per cent in the 2007 polls to 6 per cent.

As many as 7,253 polling stations have been set up in the state, out of which 1,317 have been declared sensitive and 763 hypersensitive. There are 46,08,359 electors who can cast their vote in 68 constituencies, including 74,646 service voters.

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.

His traditional BJP rival Khushi Ram Balnatah has not only shifted to the newly de-reserved Kasumpti, but also quit the party and joined the Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP). There are six candidates, but the main contest is among Mohan Lal Bragta (Congress), Balak Ram Negi (BJP) and Rattan Dass (HLP).

The other candidates are Prakash Andta (BSP), Balwan Singh (Lok Jan Shakti Party) and Badri Prasad (Independent). Virbhadra Singh’s clout is likely to enable the Congress candidate to sail through. The BJP has been a divided house and a majority of its workers have joined the HLP.

The new party will cut into votes of both parties. Like all other constituencies in the apple belt, the deplorable condition of roads, particularly the Theog-Hatokoti road, is a major issue. Campaigning has been a low-key affair.

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.

The BJP strategy may boomerang as its candidate hails from the upper Nachan hills but “Rams and Dogras of the lower region” dominate politics here. The lower region also constitutes a large vote bank. But the Congress also holds ground in the upper region of Nachan.

Both Dogras and Damodars come from the plains, but they are on a different political plane.

The BJP faced a revolt in Nachan Mandal after Dile Ram was denied the party ticket. Chief Minister PK Dhumal stepped in to diffuse the situation. But Dile Ram is a “pained man” and Vinod is trying to reach out to the public to establish personal rapport.

Damodar has been campaigning over the past few years and was a hot contender for the BJP ticket. Damodar is banking on his rapport with the public and is said to be a powerful third force in Nachan.

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.

Mast Ram has entered in fray as an Independent with the tacit support from former BJP MLA Joginderpal, who also suffered similar setback from the BJP.

Hira Lal, who joined the BJP as its associate member, is banking on the BJP cadre, which is upset because Joginderpal was not given the party ticket.

The Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) has fielded Chaman Lal. But he is a non-entity in what has turned out to be a keen triangular contest among Congress candidate Mansa Ram, Hira Lal and Mast Ram.

Mast Ram had won the 2003 election taking advantage of the cast combinations. This time, the voters have kept their cards close to their chest.

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.

The BJP cadre has been in tatters in the Kullu district after Maheshwar Singh revolted against Chief Minister PK Dhumal and formed the HLP. Kishorilal is on a sticky wicket.

Congress newcomer Khub Ram is banking on the strength of Congress star campaigner Virbhadra Singh and his son Vikramaditya Singh, who had pepped Ram’s campaign at two public meetings. Maheshwar Singh had also held a meeting in Anni earlier in support of Nand Lal. PK Dhumal had pepped up Kishorilal when he had declared him as the BJP candidate.

People of Anni hold the state government responsible as the area remains cut off for a month over the past few years. They allege that the route which got damaged after a landslide at Khanag for never restored properly. Farmers rue damage to crops. Two children were among five persons killed in leopard and bear attacks in Dalash area over the past three years.

Traffic congestion, sanitation, power cuts and frequent breakdown of telephone networks are other problem areas, residents say. After being denied a ticket Congress veteran Ishwar Das, 72, is banking on the sympathy factor. He enjoys a clean image and calims support of the people, claims Prem Singh, his supporter.

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.

The other candidates, Hari Chand (BSP), Ramla Devi (Lok Jan Shakti Party) and Rajender Singh (Trinamool Congress) are not likely to cut much ice with the electorate in this Rajput-dominated constituency with a significant Scheduled Caste population.

The shifting of the Deha kanungo circle from Theog to Chopal and some parts of Chopal to Jubbal-Kotkhai in delimitation has changed the complexion of the constituency significantly. Delimitation has brought Verma, who hails from the Deha area, into the picture. Resourceful and influential, he has launched a massive and organised campaign.

Twice winner Manglate has to contend with anti-incumbency this time. The return of Virbhadra Singh as the state party chief is likely to help him. The BJP has never been on a sound footing in this constituency. In the last three decades, it won only in 1990. It has brought in new face Mehta, an advocate actively working for the party for the last decade.

The bad condition of roads and the shortage of doctors, teachers and other staff are the main election issues. The Congress has been making it an issue of regional discrimination and charging the BJP with handing out stepmotherly treatment to the Shimla area.

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.

The BJP is facing the rebel problem in this constituency. Manohar Dhiman is the BJP rebel and he can make a dent in the vote bank of the party, which has fielded Reeta Dhiman. Sitting MLA Des Raj and his supporters have been expelled for supporting Dhiman.

The Congress is facing a similar problem. A section of Congress leaders is opposing official nominee Kamal Kishore. During a recent visit of Virbhadra Singh to the area, there was a spat between Congress leaders, which infuriated him. A triangular contest is on the cards.

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.

Addressing a press conference here today, Jaitley said the issue of giving Rs 90 crore to Young India from party funds received under Income Tax exemption was a serious issue.

“At this juncture, I would not like to broach the issue of de-recognition of the Congress by the Election Commission as it is only after getting a specific clarification that we would react further,” he said.

Jaitley said the Congress had only used adjectives by terming these allegations as baseless but no specific reply had come from the party, despite the nation wanting a clarification.

“It is under Article 8 of the People’s Representation Act that all political parties are supposed to use party funds, exempted form Income Tax for only political purposes, which according to Dr Subramaniam Swamy had been violated” he alleged.

The BJP leader said Rajiv Gandhi initiated all these changes in the People’s Representation Act by forcing all political parties to make amendments in Section 29. And if the Congress was found to be violating them, it would be a serious issue.

“If there has been violation, then the Congress would be charged under the Companies Act and the Income Tax Act, though I would not at the moment seek de-recognition of the party,” Jaitley opined.

“The latest hike in prices of the LPG has been put on the hold but only till November 4, when polling in Himachal would be over so the best way to deal with such people is to vote them out,” he said.

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.

He said the time had come to “teach a lesson” to the Congress whose leaders were “habitual in corruption” and going in “jails for their misdeeds”. “The Congress has crossed all limits of corruption,” he said. — OC

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.

Union Minister Anand Sharma cancelled his trip to address this rally in Darang here, while Bahuguna attacked the BJP and said people of Uttarakhand threw out the BJP regime and showed door to the Chief Minister, who lost his own seat.

Bahuguna said the BJP had always tried to weaken democratic institutions to grab power. Development came to a halt in Uttarakhand for the past five years and the same thing had happened in Himachal also. Bahuguna and Birender addressed two public meetings in support of Bhuvneshwar Gaur in Manali and Sunder Thakur in Kullu.