On Thursday, the campaign for Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls ended with the BJP and Congress engaged in an exciting contest and Aam Admi Party also trying to make its presence felt in the state.
The campaign’s final day saw Union minister Amit Shah and party president JP Nadda addressing rallies in Sirmour and Kangra districts and the Congress organizing “Vijay Ashirwaad” rallies in all 68 assembly segments. Party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra addressed a public meeting at Sirmour and participated in door-to-door campaigning in the state capital of Shimla.
The BJP’s campaign, led by Modi and Shah, revolved around projecting the strength of its double-engine growth and development projects undertaken by the state with the Centre’s backing. The Congress focused on 10 guarantees if it came back to power, including restoring the old pension scheme, 500,000 jobs, and ₹1,500 a month to women.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is making its election debut, announced plans to replicate its Delhi model of free electricity to low-consumption users in the state.
In his rallies, Shah targeted the Congress and appealed to the voters to bring the BJP back to power in the state, he said: “The double engine government has scripted history in development in every sector.”
In the run-up to the election, the BJP was quick to start its campaigning as early as May, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding a roadshow in the capital Shimla and addressing a rally to mark the eighth anniversary of his government at the Centre. The party’s campaign continued to gain momentum since then and revolved around the government’s development work in the past five years and the benefits of “double engine” governments.
On the other hand, the congress had a relatively sluggish start to its campaign as the party kept struggling with factionalism in the absence of strong leadership. Its campaign got a boost in October when Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra addressed her first election rally in the State and followed up with a series of more rallies.
The elections will decide the fate of Chief Minister Jairam Thakur, CLP Leader Mukesh Agnihotri, Chairman of Congress Campaign Committee Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, and several other prominent leaders. The results will be declared on December 8, along with the outcome of the Gujarat polls.
READ ALSO:
Electoral Rolls Revision: Civil Society, Political Parties, urged to Extend Cooperation
Campaigning for Assembly, Congress President Kharge to Address Rallies in Shimla
