All eyes are on Himachal Assembly Election

Himachal assembly election dates have been announced. Therefore, all eyes are on this election now. It may be mentioned here that Himachal Pradesh is an adjoining state of Punjab from where many senior leaders of BJP and Congress have shown their charismatic leadership. Former Chief Ministers of Himachal Pradesh Yashwant Singh Parmar, Virbhadra Singh, Shanta Kumar, Thakur Ram Lal, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal and the present Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur have shown their caliber of how to rule and to make Himachal Pradesh a developed and prosperous state. Other names are such as Former Union Ministers from Himachal Pradesh Sukh Ram, Anand Sharma, and JP Nadda (BJP National President) and Anurag Singh Thakur (Union Minister in the Modi Government).  Himachal Pradesh is one of the tourist hubs and known for its religious pilgrimage importance, natural paradise with snow peak mountains, rivulets etc. The people of Himachal Pradesh are going to exercise their right of franchise on 12th November, 2022 to elect a new assembly for nest five years.

BJP HAVING AN EDGE?
Bharatiya Janata Party is having an edge over its rival opposition political parties and no doubt BJP at present seems to be on drivers’ seat. The reason is that Himachal Pradesh has witnessed multi corner development in every sector in the past five years, it may be roads, infrastructure development, railway projects, hospital specially AIIMS at Bilaspur, Atal Tunnel, Vande Bharat Express. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has left no stone unturned on the issue of carrying out successfully development works in the state and even boosting tourism in the state. Even though due to Covid-19 Himachal Pradesh economy which suffered seems to be back on the track. BJP National President Jagat Parkash Nadda has a hold on a big chunk of votes in Bilaspur area and similarly Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, Anurag Singh Thakur have hold on the voters of Hamirpur area, Shanta Kumar in Kangra area and Jai Ram Thakur in the Mandi area. Indications are clear that BJP can create a history by coming to power for the second consecutive time sidelining the old tradition of vice versa after every five year.

CENTRES’ AMPLE FUNDS FOR DEVELOPMENT 
The Union Government in the past five years have already dispatched ample of funds to successfully carry out infrastructural development works. BJP will be contesting this election on their achieved five years performance and to future accelerate the development works which are pending at present in next five years.
 
AAP MAY SHOW ITS PRESENCE 
AAP after winning in Punjab is confident about showing its better performance in Himachal Pradesh as the party has announced number of guarantees of freebies to the people of Himachal Pradesh will be fulfilled if voted to power. The major question is that voters polled to AAP will cut the votes of which political party. The AAP can perform little better in the areas adjoining Punjab Border and can upset the prospects of Congress in these assembly elections. AAP Supremo Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann have already been campaigning in Himachal Pradesh since May 2022.

CONGRESS TOO HOPES 
The voters are in dilemma in Himachal Pradesh in regard to the past voting pattern. As the Election will be in full swing after the nominations of the candidates, soon the election campaigning will be heated up and the senior leaders from other political parties will be visiting Himachal Pradesh for campaigning for their respective candidates. Senior Congress leaders will soon be seen campaigning in Himachal Pradesh. Meanwhile, a senior leader Arvind Sharma has already sidelined himself from the Congress party.

WHO TO PLACE DECISIVE ROLE?
Most of the people from Himachal are working in the nearby states especially in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and their votes may play decisive role in the coming assembly elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already conducted public rallies along with BJP National President JP Nadda, Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur have already carried out number of public Rallies and highlighted their development works carried out in past five years and the future planning of another five years if voted to power but the key of success lies in the hands of the voters. Whatever the voters decide will have to be accepted by the political parties and their leaders.

Authored by:    
Rajat Kumar Mohindru, 
Journalist, 
Jalandhar, Punjab.