News Analysis India

Tag: Himachal polls

  • Jairam Thakur will continue to be CM face in Himachal: BJP chief Nadda

    By ANI

    BILASPUR: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Jagat Prakash Nadda on Saturday said that the current Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh would be the face of the new CM of the state if the party wins the assembly election.

    While talking to ANI, he said, “We definitely are in a comfortable majority. The election has been contested under the leadership of Jairam Thakur and he will continue (to be the CM face).”

    Nadda also took a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as the latter did not participate in any campaign for the Himachal assembly election and called the Congress members “careerist leaders.”

    “They are careerist leaders, realised that they will gain nothing in HP and Gujarat. Once they feel they are winning or can win, they all will come here for credit. They know they won’t gain anything. So they won’t be seen,” Nadda said attacking the Congress party.READ | Focusing Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul unlikely to attend Parliament

    As the state alternates between the BJP and the Congress in the last several elections, Nadda thinks that this would change in this election.

    “It will definitely change. The people have made up their minds to change the tradition because the development in the last five years can be seen on the ground. So, there’s an atmosphere of joy and people want the government repeated,” the BJP chief said.

    Nadda further said that the people of the state were showing zeal to elect the “BJP” again and wanted to give the party “another chance.”

    “People of Himachal are aware of their rights and voting right. So, polling is always good here. I see zeal, people want to give BJP another chance. I also see that people love and trust PM Modi and want the BJP government again. I see a favourable atmosphere for BJP,” JP Nadda said.

    The state started to poll at 8 am on Saturday to decide the fate of 412 candidates for 68 assembly constituencies.

    The fight is between the ruling BJP in the state which is looking to retain power ditching the trend of the alternate party coming to power every five years since 1982, and Congress which is banking on its ’10 guarantees’ that the party listed out in its manifesto to take them home. Aam Aadmi Party is in line looking to leave a mark in the state and thus contesting on all the 68 seats alone. The challenge for the ruling BJP will be to buck anti-incumbency and change the trend of the alternate government.

    Besides these three parties, parties like the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (CPI) and Rashtriya Devbhumi Party (RDP) are in the fray.

    BJP brought star campaigners like Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party chief Jagat Prakash Nadda and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also campaigned in the hill state.

    Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also hit the ground along with other top leaders of the party including Chattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel.In 2017, BJP swept the Himachal polls, bagging 44 of the total 68 seats while Congress managed to get just 21 seats. READ | 

    BILASPUR: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Jagat Prakash Nadda on Saturday said that the current Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh would be the face of the new CM of the state if the party wins the assembly election.

    While talking to ANI, he said, “We definitely are in a comfortable majority. The election has been contested under the leadership of Jairam Thakur and he will continue (to be the CM face).”

    Nadda also took a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as the latter did not participate in any campaign for the Himachal assembly election and called the Congress members “careerist leaders.”

    “They are careerist leaders, realised that they will gain nothing in HP and Gujarat. Once they feel they are winning or can win, they all will come here for credit. They know they won’t gain anything. So they won’t be seen,” Nadda said attacking the Congress party.READ | Focusing Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul unlikely to attend Parliament

    As the state alternates between the BJP and the Congress in the last several elections, Nadda thinks that this would change in this election.

    “It will definitely change. The people have made up their minds to change the tradition because the development in the last five years can be seen on the ground. So, there’s an atmosphere of joy and people want the government repeated,” the BJP chief said.

    Nadda further said that the people of the state were showing zeal to elect the “BJP” again and wanted to give the party “another chance.”

    “People of Himachal are aware of their rights and voting right. So, polling is always good here. I see zeal, people want to give BJP another chance. I also see that people love and trust PM Modi and want the BJP government again. I see a favourable atmosphere for BJP,” JP Nadda said.

    The state started to poll at 8 am on Saturday to decide the fate of 412 candidates for 68 assembly constituencies.

    The fight is between the ruling BJP in the state which is looking to retain power ditching the trend of the alternate party coming to power every five years since 1982, and Congress which is banking on its ’10 guarantees’ that the party listed out in its manifesto to take them home. Aam Aadmi Party is in line looking to leave a mark in the state and thus contesting on all the 68 seats alone. The challenge for the ruling BJP will be to buck anti-incumbency and change the trend of the alternate government.

    Besides these three parties, parties like the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (CPI) and Rashtriya Devbhumi Party (RDP) are in the fray.

    BJP brought star campaigners like Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party chief Jagat Prakash Nadda and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also campaigned in the hill state.

    Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also hit the ground along with other top leaders of the party including Chattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel.In 2017, BJP swept the Himachal polls, bagging 44 of the total 68 seats while Congress managed to get just 21 seats. 
    READ | 

  • Big liquor, cash haul in Himachal & Gujarat ahead of polls

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has made record seizures, including cash, liquor, precious metal, and gifts from poll-bound states Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat which were possibly to be used to influence electorates. In the hill state, the value of confiscated articles, including cash, stands at Rs 50.28 crore, which is five times higher than the value of seizures made during the previous elections in 2017. People in Himachal will vote today.   

    From Gujarat, where polling will take place in two phases on December 1 and December 5, total seizure so far is of Rs 71.88 crore. Within a few days of announcement of elections in the state, it had surpassed the seizures recorded duration of enforcement of Model Code of Conduct in Assembly elections 2017, which was Rs 27.21 crore.

    Though these are early days after the polls were announced in Gujarat, yet activity by the police has led to seizure of around 1.10 lakh litre of liquor worth Rs 3.86 crore so far, said the Commission. The Election Watchdog further said that the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) had also reported massive seizure amounting to Rs 64 crore of toys and accessories, which were being smuggled by way of ‘mis-declaration’ and by resorting to concealment in import cargo at Mundra Port. Two persons including the mastermind in the case have been arrested and further investigation is under progress.  

    The Investigation Wing of Income Tax Department, which is one of the main participating enforcement agencies, conducted raids at stone crushing units in 27 premises in Himachal Pradesh and adjoining states and seized a significant amount of cash. It also conducted search and seizure operations on manufacturers and traders of country liquor, wherein unaccounted cash was seized and discrepancies in stock and account keeping was observed. The comprehensive planning, reviews and follow-ups and active participation of enforcement agencies have led to record seizures in the ongoing Assembly elections in the states, said the Commission.

    Further, if citizens become vigilant and use cVigil App more extensively, it would go a long way in curbing money power in the elections, it added.

    NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has made record seizures, including cash, liquor, precious metal, and gifts from poll-bound states Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat which were possibly to be used to influence electorates. In the hill state, the value of confiscated articles, including cash, stands at Rs 50.28 crore, which is five times higher than the value of seizures made during the previous elections in 2017. People in Himachal will vote today.   

    From Gujarat, where polling will take place in two phases on December 1 and December 5, total seizure so far is of Rs 71.88 crore. Within a few days of announcement of elections in the state, it had surpassed the seizures recorded duration of enforcement of Model Code of Conduct in Assembly elections 2017, which was Rs 27.21 crore.

    Though these are early days after the polls were announced in Gujarat, yet activity by the police has led to seizure of around 1.10 lakh litre of liquor worth Rs 3.86 crore so far, said the Commission. The Election Watchdog further said that the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) had also reported massive seizure amounting to Rs 64 crore of toys and accessories, which were being smuggled by way of ‘mis-declaration’ and by resorting to concealment in import cargo at Mundra Port. Two persons including the mastermind in the case have been arrested and further investigation is under progress.  

    The Investigation Wing of Income Tax Department, which is one of the main participating enforcement agencies, conducted raids at stone crushing units in 27 premises in Himachal Pradesh and adjoining states and seized a significant amount of cash. It also conducted search and seizure operations on manufacturers and traders of country liquor, wherein unaccounted cash was seized and discrepancies in stock and account keeping was observed. The comprehensive planning, reviews and follow-ups and active participation of enforcement agencies have led to record seizures in the ongoing Assembly elections in the states, said the Commission.

    Further, if citizens become vigilant and use cVigil App more extensively, it would go a long way in curbing money power in the elections, it added.

  • Himachal Assembly polls: Political fate of 412 candidates to be sealed today

    By ANI

    SHIMLA: The day for the electorate to decide the political fate of the leaders across parties in Himachal Pradesh has arrived with the polling for the assembly elections all set to begin at 8 am on Saturday. 

    The high-voltage political campaigns came to an end on November 10, setting up the stage for the voters to cast their vote to elect the new government. The voting will go on till 5 pm today. The votes will be counted on December 8.  

    Voting is all set to take place on all the 68 Assembly seats of the state, the majority of which (44) had come in the BJP’s bag in the 2017 Assembly polls, with Congress being restricted to just 21 seats.

    The voters need to carry their Electors’ Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) and show it at the polling booth. They may also carry one ID beside their photo voter slips.

    According to the Election Commission, a total of 55,92,828 electors of which 27,37,845 are women, 28,54,945 men and 38 were third-gender, will decide the faith of 412 candidates. This time, the representation of woman candidates is 24.

    The state, which has seen the power alternate between the BJP and Congress over the past several elections, will go to the polls on Saturday. While the BJP has expressed confidence in returning to power on the basis of the performance of state and central governments and its vision for the state, the Congress is hoping that some of its electoral promises will be a major draw among the electorate.

    Aam Adami Party (AAP) too hopes to create a mark in the state and is contesting on all 68 seats.

    Besides these three parties, parties like the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (CPI) and Rashtriya Devbhumi Party (RDP) are in the fray.

    BJP brought star campaigners like Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party chief Jagat Prakash Nadda and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also campaigned in the hill state. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also hit the ground along with other top leaders of the party including Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

    Today’s polls also carry much significance for JP Nadda since Himachal Pradesh is his native state.

    According to Election Commission, a total of 7,881 polling stations have been set up for the polls. The Kangra district has a maximum of 1,625 polling stations while the Lahaul-Spiti district has the lowest 92. There are 7,235 polling stations in rural and 646 polling stations in urban areas. Besides, three auxiliary polling stations will also be set up at Sidhbari (Dharamshala), Bara Bhangal (Baijnath) and Dhillon (Kasauli).

    The key constituencies include Seraj from where Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur is contesting again. Congress has put up Chetram Thakur who had contested from the seat last time also. Mahinder Rana is the CPI-M candidate.

    Congress legislature party leader Mukesh Agnihotri is contesting his fifth election from the Haroli assembly segment in the Una district. BJP has pitted state spokesperson Ram Kumar against him.

    Former Himachal Pradesh Congress chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, seen as a chief ministerial aspirant, is contesting from Nadaun. The BJP has fielded Vijay Agnihotri.

    Former Himachal Minister and Congress leader Asha Kumari is contesting from Dalhousie. She is pitted against BJP’s DS Thakur and AAP’s Manish Sareen.

    Senior Congress leader Kaul Singh Thakur is again fighting from his traditional seat of Darang against BJP’s Puran Chand Thakur and AAP candidate Sunita Thakur.

    Vikramaditya Singh, son of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, is recontesting from Shimla rural. BJP has fielded Ravi Mehta from the seat.

    In Shimla Urban, Congress’ Harish Janartha is taking on BJP’s ‘chaiwala’ candidate Sanjay Sood. AAP’s Chaman Rakesh Ajta and CPI-M’s Tikender Singh Pawar are also in the fray.

    In Nurpur, BJP has fielded a new candidate Ranveer Singh who is fighting against Ajay Mahajan of Congress and Manishi Kumari from AAP.

    Bhawani Paathania, who won the recent by-election from Fatehpur, is fighting against BJP minister and candidate Rakesh Pathania. AAP has fielded former Himachal minister Rajan Sushant.

    In Nagrota, Congress candidate RS Bali is fighting against BJP candidate Arun Kumar Mehra and APP candidate Umakant Dogra.

    Speaker of Himachal Pradesh Assembly Vipin Parmar is fighting from Sulah against Jagdish Sapheia and AAP candidate Ravinder Singh.

    In Sujanpur, Congress has again fielded Rajinder Singh Rana who defeated former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal in the 2017 elections. BJP has fielded Ranjit Singh from the seat and AAP has fielded Anil Rana.

    Dr Janak Raj of BJP is taking on senior Congress leader Thakur Singh Bharmauri from Bharmaur. AAP has fielded Prakash Chand Bharadwaj.

    In Jubbal Kotkhai, the Congress has fielded sitting MLA Rohit Thakur. He is fighting against Chetan Singh Bragta of the BJP. CPI-M has fielded Vishal Shangta and Shrikant Chauhan is an AAP candidate.

    Former Congress state chief Kuldeep Rathore is pitted against CPI-M’s Rakesh Singha, BJP’s Ajay Shyam and AAP’s Attar Singh.

    Minister Suresh Bhardwaj was shifted from Shimla to Kasumpti. Congress candidate Anirudh Singh and CPI-M candidate Kuldeep Singh Tanwar are also in the fray. (ANI)

    Meanwhile, 67 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) comprising 6,700 personnel and 15 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) companies have been deployed to hold free and fair Assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh.

    Besides this, 50,000 government employees have been put on poll duty. As many as 25,000 police officers are also stationed across the state.

    Teams from the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) comprising 800 personnel have also been posted.

    In 2017, BJP swept the Himachal polls, bagging 44 of the total 68 seats while Congress managed to get just 21 seats. 

    SHIMLA: The day for the electorate to decide the political fate of the leaders across parties in Himachal Pradesh has arrived with the polling for the assembly elections all set to begin at 8 am on Saturday. 

    The high-voltage political campaigns came to an end on November 10, setting up the stage for the voters to cast their vote to elect the new government. The voting will go on till 5 pm today. The votes will be counted on December 8.  

    Voting is all set to take place on all the 68 Assembly seats of the state, the majority of which (44) had come in the BJP’s bag in the 2017 Assembly polls, with Congress being restricted to just 21 seats.

    The voters need to carry their Electors’ Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) and show it at the polling booth. They may also carry one ID beside their photo voter slips.

    According to the Election Commission, a total of 55,92,828 electors of which 27,37,845 are women, 28,54,945 men and 38 were third-gender, will decide the faith of 412 candidates. This time, the representation of woman candidates is 24.

    The state, which has seen the power alternate between the BJP and Congress over the past several elections, will go to the polls on Saturday. While the BJP has expressed confidence in returning to power on the basis of the performance of state and central governments and its vision for the state, the Congress is hoping that some of its electoral promises will be a major draw among the electorate.

    Aam Adami Party (AAP) too hopes to create a mark in the state and is contesting on all 68 seats.

    Besides these three parties, parties like the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (CPI) and Rashtriya Devbhumi Party (RDP) are in the fray.

    BJP brought star campaigners like Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party chief Jagat Prakash Nadda and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also campaigned in the hill state. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also hit the ground along with other top leaders of the party including Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

    Today’s polls also carry much significance for JP Nadda since Himachal Pradesh is his native state.

    According to Election Commission, a total of 7,881 polling stations have been set up for the polls. The Kangra district has a maximum of 1,625 polling stations while the Lahaul-Spiti district has the lowest 92. There are 7,235 polling stations in rural and 646 polling stations in urban areas. Besides, three auxiliary polling stations will also be set up at Sidhbari (Dharamshala), Bara Bhangal (Baijnath) and Dhillon (Kasauli).

    The key constituencies include Seraj from where Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur is contesting again. Congress has put up Chetram Thakur who had contested from the seat last time also. Mahinder Rana is the CPI-M candidate.

    Congress legislature party leader Mukesh Agnihotri is contesting his fifth election from the Haroli assembly segment in the Una district. BJP has pitted state spokesperson Ram Kumar against him.

    Former Himachal Pradesh Congress chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, seen as a chief ministerial aspirant, is contesting from Nadaun. The BJP has fielded Vijay Agnihotri.

    Former Himachal Minister and Congress leader Asha Kumari is contesting from Dalhousie. She is pitted against BJP’s DS Thakur and AAP’s Manish Sareen.

    Senior Congress leader Kaul Singh Thakur is again fighting from his traditional seat of Darang against BJP’s Puran Chand Thakur and AAP candidate Sunita Thakur.

    Vikramaditya Singh, son of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, is recontesting from Shimla rural. BJP has fielded Ravi Mehta from the seat.

    In Shimla Urban, Congress’ Harish Janartha is taking on BJP’s ‘chaiwala’ candidate Sanjay Sood. AAP’s Chaman Rakesh Ajta and CPI-M’s Tikender Singh Pawar are also in the fray.

    In Nurpur, BJP has fielded a new candidate Ranveer Singh who is fighting against Ajay Mahajan of Congress and Manishi Kumari from AAP.

    Bhawani Paathania, who won the recent by-election from Fatehpur, is fighting against BJP minister and candidate Rakesh Pathania. AAP has fielded former Himachal minister Rajan Sushant.

    In Nagrota, Congress candidate RS Bali is fighting against BJP candidate Arun Kumar Mehra and APP candidate Umakant Dogra.

    Speaker of Himachal Pradesh Assembly Vipin Parmar is fighting from Sulah against Jagdish Sapheia and AAP candidate Ravinder Singh.

    In Sujanpur, Congress has again fielded Rajinder Singh Rana who defeated former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal in the 2017 elections. BJP has fielded Ranjit Singh from the seat and AAP has fielded Anil Rana.

    Dr Janak Raj of BJP is taking on senior Congress leader Thakur Singh Bharmauri from Bharmaur. AAP has fielded Prakash Chand Bharadwaj.

    In Jubbal Kotkhai, the Congress has fielded sitting MLA Rohit Thakur. He is fighting against Chetan Singh Bragta of the BJP. CPI-M has fielded Vishal Shangta and Shrikant Chauhan is an AAP candidate.

    Former Congress state chief Kuldeep Rathore is pitted against CPI-M’s Rakesh Singha, BJP’s Ajay Shyam and AAP’s Attar Singh.

    Minister Suresh Bhardwaj was shifted from Shimla to Kasumpti. Congress candidate Anirudh Singh and CPI-M candidate Kuldeep Singh Tanwar are also in the fray. (ANI)

    Meanwhile, 67 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) comprising 6,700 personnel and 15 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) companies have been deployed to hold free and fair Assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh.

    Besides this, 50,000 government employees have been put on poll duty. As many as 25,000 police officers are also stationed across the state.

    Teams from the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) comprising 800 personnel have also been posted.

    In 2017, BJP swept the Himachal polls, bagging 44 of the total 68 seats while Congress managed to get just 21 seats. 

  • Himachal Pradesh elections: Congress banks on ‘royals’, BJP says no place for them in democracy

    By PTI

    SHIMLA: Once reigning over principalities, the erstwhile royals of Himachal Pradesh are looking to retain their influence, not just contesting elections but also becoming a centre of debate.

    While the Congress has put its money on a number of former “royals” in the upcoming Assembly polls, the ruling BJP says there is no place for “rajas and ranis” in a democracy.

    The influence of the “royals” has, however, waned over the years, as is clear from their depleting numbers in the poll fray this time.

    Only a handful of them are contesting the Assembly election to be held on November 12.

    Virbhadra Singh, who hailed from the erstwhile Rampur Bushahr royal family, dominated the politics of the hill state for almost five decades.

    His son Vikramaditya is now in the fray from the Shimla Rural seat.

    Vikramaditya Singh’s mother Pratibha Singh, who hails from the erstwhile Keonthal royal family, is the president of the Himachal Pradesh Congress.

    She is not contesting the election as she is the MP from Mandi.

    Asha Kumari, the five-time MLA from Dalhousie, is married in the erstwhile royal family of Chamba.

    She has been nominated by the Congress this time as well.

    Incumbent MLA Anirudh Singh of the erstwhile Koti royal family is contesting again from Kasumpti.

    He is also a former chairman of the Shimla Zila Parishad.

    Another “royal” scion in the fray is Hiteshwar Singh as an independent from the Banjar constituency in Kullu.

    His father Maheshwar Singh, the “king” of the erstwhile Kullu kingdom, lost his ticket as his son threw his hat in the ring.

    The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has raised the pitch against the Congress, accusing it of being a party of “rajas and ranis”.

    The reference is to former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, who ruled the state for decades and whose wife and son are still running the show for the grand old party.

    However, missing from the poll contest this time is Vijay Jyoti Sen of the erstwhile Keonthal royal family, who is also Pratibha Singh’s sister-in-law.

    Sen had contested the last Assembly polls from Kasumpti.

    She is supporting the BJP this time.

    Chandresh Kumari of the erstwhile Kangra royal family is also not there in this election.

    She had a sway once in both Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan as she hails from the erstwhile Jodhpur royal family.

    She has been a former minister in Himachal Pradesh and a former member of Parliament too.

    “Gone are the days of raja-rani, now is the time of the common people,” Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah had said while launching a tirade against royalty and the Congress at his poll rallies.

    Shah had also accused the Congress of being a party of “raja-rani” and said there is no place for “royals” in a democracy anymore.

    However, Anirudh Singh feels that for the current generation of voters, it does not matter whether one belongs to a “royal” family or not, what matters is one’s conduct.

    “If you work for people, people will develop a liking for you.

    If you stay like a commoner despite being from a royal family, people will prefer you and the liking will grow,” he told PTI.

    Maheshwar Singh (73), a scion of the erstwhile Kullu royal family who has been in politics for more than four decades, says royalties have long gone after Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s time and they have no place in a democracy.

    Maheshwar Singh, who was replaced as the BJP candidate from Kullu after his son filed his nomination as an independent from the nearby Banjar seat, withdrew his nomination as an independent candidate in favour of the ruling party’s nominee.

    He said gone are the days of rajas and maharajas and in a democracy, only those who serve the electorate well will command respect from people.

    “These days, no one votes for you because you are a raja. They will respect you only as per your conduct. In a democracy, it is a disadvantage being a royal. People will only vote for you if you do their work and serve them well,” he told PTI.

    “I am just a ‘ghulam’ of Raghunathji and hold the Lord’s sacred ‘chhadi’ as his ‘chowkidar’ during Dussehra in accordance with tradition. I also deter people from addressing me as a raja,” he said.

    According to tradition, the scion of the erstwhile Kullu royal family holds the sacred “chhadi” of Lord Raghunath during the annual 10-day Dussehra festival.

    Ramesh, a small shopkeeper in Una’s Talliwal, says the “royals” continue to hold sway over the voters of the hill state as they are still revered by the locals.

    “How can one ignore the royals who have been the rulers in different kingdoms of Himachal Pradesh? They will continue to influence the common people,” he said.

    Ashok Kumar from Solan, however, feels that the “royals” had their sway in the past and now is the time for the common people to rule through merit.

    “No one can claim to be special these days because he was born in a royal family. It is merit that matters and anyone serving people well will be preferred,” he said.

    Rahul from Nalagarh says royalty is a passe now and asserts that politics has to be “clean” if the state and the country have to progress.

    Those with a clean record should come forward and honesty should be rewarded by people, he says.

    As the “royals” rough it out on the roads of Himachal, away from the comforts of their palaces, the BJP is cautioning the voters against the “feudal submission” to the “princely” candidates of the Congress.

    With political parties playing their own games in the run-up to the polls, voters also admit that royalty has deep roots in the rural hinterland of Himachal Pradesh.

    Whether the “royals” continue to hold a mighty sway on the hearts of voters, only time will tell.

    SHIMLA: Once reigning over principalities, the erstwhile royals of Himachal Pradesh are looking to retain their influence, not just contesting elections but also becoming a centre of debate.

    While the Congress has put its money on a number of former “royals” in the upcoming Assembly polls, the ruling BJP says there is no place for “rajas and ranis” in a democracy.

    The influence of the “royals” has, however, waned over the years, as is clear from their depleting numbers in the poll fray this time.

    Only a handful of them are contesting the Assembly election to be held on November 12.

    Virbhadra Singh, who hailed from the erstwhile Rampur Bushahr royal family, dominated the politics of the hill state for almost five decades.

    His son Vikramaditya is now in the fray from the Shimla Rural seat.

    Vikramaditya Singh’s mother Pratibha Singh, who hails from the erstwhile Keonthal royal family, is the president of the Himachal Pradesh Congress.

    She is not contesting the election as she is the MP from Mandi.

    Asha Kumari, the five-time MLA from Dalhousie, is married in the erstwhile royal family of Chamba.

    She has been nominated by the Congress this time as well.

    Incumbent MLA Anirudh Singh of the erstwhile Koti royal family is contesting again from Kasumpti.

    He is also a former chairman of the Shimla Zila Parishad.

    Another “royal” scion in the fray is Hiteshwar Singh as an independent from the Banjar constituency in Kullu.

    His father Maheshwar Singh, the “king” of the erstwhile Kullu kingdom, lost his ticket as his son threw his hat in the ring.

    The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has raised the pitch against the Congress, accusing it of being a party of “rajas and ranis”.

    The reference is to former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, who ruled the state for decades and whose wife and son are still running the show for the grand old party.

    However, missing from the poll contest this time is Vijay Jyoti Sen of the erstwhile Keonthal royal family, who is also Pratibha Singh’s sister-in-law.

    Sen had contested the last Assembly polls from Kasumpti.

    She is supporting the BJP this time.

    Chandresh Kumari of the erstwhile Kangra royal family is also not there in this election.

    She had a sway once in both Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan as she hails from the erstwhile Jodhpur royal family.

    She has been a former minister in Himachal Pradesh and a former member of Parliament too.

    “Gone are the days of raja-rani, now is the time of the common people,” Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah had said while launching a tirade against royalty and the Congress at his poll rallies.

    Shah had also accused the Congress of being a party of “raja-rani” and said there is no place for “royals” in a democracy anymore.

    However, Anirudh Singh feels that for the current generation of voters, it does not matter whether one belongs to a “royal” family or not, what matters is one’s conduct.

    “If you work for people, people will develop a liking for you.

    If you stay like a commoner despite being from a royal family, people will prefer you and the liking will grow,” he told PTI.

    Maheshwar Singh (73), a scion of the erstwhile Kullu royal family who has been in politics for more than four decades, says royalties have long gone after Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s time and they have no place in a democracy.

    Maheshwar Singh, who was replaced as the BJP candidate from Kullu after his son filed his nomination as an independent from the nearby Banjar seat, withdrew his nomination as an independent candidate in favour of the ruling party’s nominee.

    He said gone are the days of rajas and maharajas and in a democracy, only those who serve the electorate well will command respect from people.

    “These days, no one votes for you because you are a raja. They will respect you only as per your conduct. In a democracy, it is a disadvantage being a royal. People will only vote for you if you do their work and serve them well,” he told PTI.

    “I am just a ‘ghulam’ of Raghunathji and hold the Lord’s sacred ‘chhadi’ as his ‘chowkidar’ during Dussehra in accordance with tradition. I also deter people from addressing me as a raja,” he said.

    According to tradition, the scion of the erstwhile Kullu royal family holds the sacred “chhadi” of Lord Raghunath during the annual 10-day Dussehra festival.

    Ramesh, a small shopkeeper in Una’s Talliwal, says the “royals” continue to hold sway over the voters of the hill state as they are still revered by the locals.

    “How can one ignore the royals who have been the rulers in different kingdoms of Himachal Pradesh? They will continue to influence the common people,” he said.

    Ashok Kumar from Solan, however, feels that the “royals” had their sway in the past and now is the time for the common people to rule through merit.

    “No one can claim to be special these days because he was born in a royal family. It is merit that matters and anyone serving people well will be preferred,” he said.

    Rahul from Nalagarh says royalty is a passe now and asserts that politics has to be “clean” if the state and the country have to progress.

    Those with a clean record should come forward and honesty should be rewarded by people, he says.

    As the “royals” rough it out on the roads of Himachal, away from the comforts of their palaces, the BJP is cautioning the voters against the “feudal submission” to the “princely” candidates of the Congress.

    With political parties playing their own games in the run-up to the polls, voters also admit that royalty has deep roots in the rural hinterland of Himachal Pradesh.

    Whether the “royals” continue to hold a mighty sway on the hearts of voters, only time will tell.

  • Amit Shah targets Congress with ‘ma-beta party’ barb in Himachal rally

    By PTI

    CHAMBA, HIMACHAL PRADESH: Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah launched an attack on Tuesday calling the Congress as “ma-beta” party both in Himachal Pradesh and in Delhi, wondering how can those facing a chargesheet provide a good government in the hill state.

    Shah also said that gone are the days of “raja-rani” and it is the “time of common people” in a democracy like India.

    Addressing a public rally here in favour of the BJP candidate in the November 12 Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls and Bhattiyat MLA Bikram Singh Jaryal, Shah urged the voters to re-elect the saffron party to power in the state by breaking the tradition of not repeating a government.

    The Home Minister said he had heard the speeches of Congress leaders and they had nothing to say apart from banking on the tradition of alternative governments in the hill state.

    “Change this tradition of alternative governments and repeat the BJP in the state. Form a BJP government for the second time by breaking this tradition and we will ensure a drugs-free Himachal by putting an end to the business of narcotics here. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji has taken a pledge for a drugs-free India in the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav,” the home minister said to a roaring audience.

    “I have heard the speeches of Congress leaders. They have nothing to say except stressing on the ‘riwaz’ (tradition),” he said, coining a new slogan — “Ek bar BJP, bar bar BJP”.

    Accusing the Congress of trying to create divisions between upper and lower Himachal, Shah said, “But Rahul baba, upper Himachal and lower Himachal both belong to the BJP and so does every nook and corner of the state.”

    Alleging that the Congress was responsible for “scams” involving a total amount of Rs 12 lakh crore during its government at the Centre, the home minister said, “Still not satiated, they have now come to Himachal Pradesh. How can those facing a chargesheet give a good government in the state?”

    “There is democracy in the country and gone are the days of raja-rani. It is the time of common people. We have to elect a government that works for the development of the state,” he quipped.

    Noting that there is nothing in the name of development in the speeches of the Congress leaders, Shah said, “In Delhi, it is a ma-beta party and here too, it is a ma-beta party, where there is no place for youngsters. Youngsters have a place only in the BJP.”

    His remarks came in an apparent reference to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi and Pratibha Singh and her son Vikramaditya Singh in Himachal Pradesh.

    Stressing on Modi’s development plank and his fondness for Himachal Pradesh, he said the prime minister has worked here for years and that is why he is familiar with every corner of the state. Shah also recalled that the BJP has laid a web of roads in the state and that a medical college is coming up in Chamba.

    “When there is a double-engine government, it has its own strength. If anyone has benefitted the most during the Modi government, it is the 80 crore poor people of the country,” he said enumerating a number of central schemes.

    Shah alleged that during the previous UPA rule in the country, terrorists used to behead Indian soldiers every now and then but the Congress leaders would not even say a word as they feared losing their vote bank. “But now, it is the Modi government and not that of mauni baba Manmohan Singh,” he said, referring to the surgical strikes inside Pakistan.

    Shah also reminded people of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, saying it was Modi who made these things possible.

    “You will see a magnificent, sky-touching Ram temple after 2024 and you should book your tickets,” he said while also highlighting the construction of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor in Varanasi. “The Congress was trying to insult our heritage, our religious sites and icons, but Modiji, without worrying about vote banks, made these possible,” Shah said.

    The home minister paid homage to the jawans from Himachal Pradesh who laid down their lives for the nation and said the state sends the highest number of soldiers to the armed forces.

    Shah is scheduled to address a series of rallies in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh during his two-day tour of the hill state. Polling will be held in Himachal Pradesh on November 12 and the counting of votes taken up on December 8.

    The BJP is seeking re-election in the state, while the Congress is eyeing to wrest power from the saffron party, even as new entrant Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is looking to capture new political space.

    CHAMBA, HIMACHAL PRADESH: Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah launched an attack on Tuesday calling the Congress as “ma-beta” party both in Himachal Pradesh and in Delhi, wondering how can those facing a chargesheet provide a good government in the hill state.

    Shah also said that gone are the days of “raja-rani” and it is the “time of common people” in a democracy like India.

    Addressing a public rally here in favour of the BJP candidate in the November 12 Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls and Bhattiyat MLA Bikram Singh Jaryal, Shah urged the voters to re-elect the saffron party to power in the state by breaking the tradition of not repeating a government.

    The Home Minister said he had heard the speeches of Congress leaders and they had nothing to say apart from banking on the tradition of alternative governments in the hill state.

    “Change this tradition of alternative governments and repeat the BJP in the state. Form a BJP government for the second time by breaking this tradition and we will ensure a drugs-free Himachal by putting an end to the business of narcotics here. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji has taken a pledge for a drugs-free India in the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav,” the home minister said to a roaring audience.

    “I have heard the speeches of Congress leaders. They have nothing to say except stressing on the ‘riwaz’ (tradition),” he said, coining a new slogan — “Ek bar BJP, bar bar BJP”.

    Accusing the Congress of trying to create divisions between upper and lower Himachal, Shah said, “But Rahul baba, upper Himachal and lower Himachal both belong to the BJP and so does every nook and corner of the state.”

    Alleging that the Congress was responsible for “scams” involving a total amount of Rs 12 lakh crore during its government at the Centre, the home minister said, “Still not satiated, they have now come to Himachal Pradesh. How can those facing a chargesheet give a good government in the state?”

    “There is democracy in the country and gone are the days of raja-rani. It is the time of common people. We have to elect a government that works for the development of the state,” he quipped.

    Noting that there is nothing in the name of development in the speeches of the Congress leaders, Shah said, “In Delhi, it is a ma-beta party and here too, it is a ma-beta party, where there is no place for youngsters. Youngsters have a place only in the BJP.”

    His remarks came in an apparent reference to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi and Pratibha Singh and her son Vikramaditya Singh in Himachal Pradesh.

    Stressing on Modi’s development plank and his fondness for Himachal Pradesh, he said the prime minister has worked here for years and that is why he is familiar with every corner of the state. Shah also recalled that the BJP has laid a web of roads in the state and that a medical college is coming up in Chamba.

    “When there is a double-engine government, it has its own strength. If anyone has benefitted the most during the Modi government, it is the 80 crore poor people of the country,” he said enumerating a number of central schemes.

    Shah alleged that during the previous UPA rule in the country, terrorists used to behead Indian soldiers every now and then but the Congress leaders would not even say a word as they feared losing their vote bank. “But now, it is the Modi government and not that of mauni baba Manmohan Singh,” he said, referring to the surgical strikes inside Pakistan.

    Shah also reminded people of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, saying it was Modi who made these things possible.

    “You will see a magnificent, sky-touching Ram temple after 2024 and you should book your tickets,” he said while also highlighting the construction of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor in Varanasi. “The Congress was trying to insult our heritage, our religious sites and icons, but Modiji, without worrying about vote banks, made these possible,” Shah said.

    The home minister paid homage to the jawans from Himachal Pradesh who laid down their lives for the nation and said the state sends the highest number of soldiers to the armed forces.

    Shah is scheduled to address a series of rallies in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh during his two-day tour of the hill state. Polling will be held in Himachal Pradesh on November 12 and the counting of votes taken up on December 8.

    The BJP is seeking re-election in the state, while the Congress is eyeing to wrest power from the saffron party, even as new entrant Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is looking to capture new political space.

  • Two BJP leaders quit party, file papers as independents from Dharamshala

    By PTI

    DHARAMSHALA: Two senior BJP leaders here resigned from the party and filed nomination papers as independent candidates for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls.

    Vipin Naihariya, the party’s ST Morcha vice president, and BJP district chief Anil Choudhry were ticket aspirants but the party chose OBC leader Rakesh Chaudhary over them and sitting MLA Vishal Naihariya.

    Meanwhile, the sitting MLA said he is with the party and expressed confidence in Rakesh Chaudhary.

    Vipin Naihariya, a Gaddi community leader, claimed that all office-bearers of the BJP’s Dharamshala Mandal have put in their papers in protest against the party ticket to Chaudhary.

    Tuesday was the last day for the filing of nominations, which can be withdrawn till October 29.

    The voting will take place on November 12 and the results will be declared on December 8.

    DHARAMSHALA: Two senior BJP leaders here resigned from the party and filed nomination papers as independent candidates for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls.

    Vipin Naihariya, the party’s ST Morcha vice president, and BJP district chief Anil Choudhry were ticket aspirants but the party chose OBC leader Rakesh Chaudhary over them and sitting MLA Vishal Naihariya.

    Meanwhile, the sitting MLA said he is with the party and expressed confidence in Rakesh Chaudhary.

    Vipin Naihariya, a Gaddi community leader, claimed that all office-bearers of the BJP’s Dharamshala Mandal have put in their papers in protest against the party ticket to Chaudhary.

    Tuesday was the last day for the filing of nominations, which can be withdrawn till October 29.

    The voting will take place on November 12 and the results will be declared on December 8.