Voting On In Himachal, BJP Hopes For Historic Second Term

Today, voters in Himachal Pradesh will cast ballots in 68 assembly districts. Whether the BJP gives in to the Himalayan state’s “rivaaj,” or tradition, of replacing the administration, lies at the heart of the conflict.

The governing BJP has insisted that “continuity” is essential to progress while simultaneously marketing Jairam Thakur and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Its main claim is that the “double engine” of governments run by the same party at the federal and state levels will prevent obstructions to work. It uses Uttarakhand, a different Himalayan state, as an illustration of how to stop the change-every-election tendency.

The Congress wants the people to follow the four-decade pattern of ousting the incumbent, claiming that the election is about local matters.The party, which has been experiencing a leadership crisis since the passing of veteran Virbhadra Singh, claims it can easily retake power since its seat-by-seat ticket distribution has been “far better than previously.” Pratibha Singh, the wife of Virbhadhra Singh, is in charge of the state unit; Vikramaditya Singh is one of the candidates. For JP Nadda, the national chief of the BJP, which has 21 rebels, the election also affects his reputation.

He had previously served as Prem Kumar Dhumal’s minister in the state. Mr. Dhumal is one of those who is not running; he claims he has retired on his own, despite the fact that the “denial of ticket” to him and others has garnered media attention, especially since numerous leaders sobbed on stage.Yogi Adityanath, who is viewed as the aggressive face of the BJP’s Hindutva doctrine, and Union ministers went to Himachal to campaign. While her brother Rahul Gandhi decided to stay on his “Bharat Jodo Yatra,” Priyanka Gandhi Vadra conducted rallies for the Congress.

In addition, Mallikarjun Kharge ran for office as Congress’ first non-Gandhi leader in 24 years. While the Congress has conducted a quiet campaign in PM Modi’s stronghold of Gujarat, which goes to the polls next month, it will need to win Himachal to stop its downward trend and energise its cadres. In roughly two years, the party has failed to win or have a significant impact in nine states.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright