In Himachal Pradesh, it is BJP's hisab versus Cong's jawab

Chandigarh: The Congress and BJP are once again pitted against each other in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh whose voters have never returned a party to power after a five-year term. Going by this trend, it is the BJP’s turn to wrest power form the Congress.

The BJP has come up with an aggressive poll campaign titled — Hisab Mange Himachal (Himachal seeks accountability) criticising five years of the Congress rule for alleged corruption. On the other hand, the Congress has countered it with an equally novel campaign — Jawab Dega Himachal (Himachal will answer back).

This apart, the Congress is also banking on the fallout of GST and demonetisation. Traders in different towns of the state resent GST.

The ruling Congress has once again projected party stalwart and chief minister Virbhadra Singh as its CM candidate, even though several alleged corruption cases are pending against him. The veteran leader is eyeing the CM seat for a record seventh time.

However, the BJP, which is looking to capitalise on the anti-incumbency factor, has not named anyone as its CM face. The decision not to name a CM candidate has intensified rumblings within the saffron party, boosting the Congress’ morale.

According to former chief minister and BJP veteran Prem Kumar Dhumal, “Himachal Pradesh is a small state where people are emotionally connected with leaders of both parties. It is very important that people know that who will be the person at the helm of affairs and who they can reach out to, when the actual need arises.”

“However, this is a decision that the party’s top leadership or parliamentary boards need to take,” he said. The BJP and the Congress are coming up with imaginary and attractive innovations in the campaign.

The BJP’s campaign includes the Vidhayak ji Jawab Do (MLA sir please answer) series featuring 36 videos, with voters seeking accountability from 36 Congress legislators and reminding them of their “unfulfilled” promises.

The videos even have conversations with youths, women, government employees, farmers and other sections of society. These videos highlight the “miserable plight” of the people and “public response towards the apathetic attitude” of the government, said BJP leader.

Mr Dhumal said that the Virbhadra Singh-led government has miserably failed to resolve the key issues such as water shortage, dilapidated roads, inadequate public transport, staff shortage in educational and health institutions.

State Congress chief S.S. Sukhu said, “The party will repeat its last electoral performance and form the government again. We are seeking votes on our performance   and the hasty implementation of GST and demonetisiation by the Narendra Modi government.”