BJP gets into poll mode, promises 145;change146;

Having resolved to play the incumbency card against the ruling Congress, the BJP is set to focus on 8220;change...

Having resolved to play the incumbency card against the ruling Congress, the BJP is set to focus on 8220;change8221; to mobilise support for itself in the ensuing Assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh.

8220;Our slogan is: Halaat badal do, sarkar badal do Change the situation, change the Government,8221; Satyapal Jain, central BJP in-charge of the state, told The Indian Express on Thursday. Jain said there is a mass disenchantment over Congress8217; failure to fulfill its promises made before last Assembly polls and 8220;one can feel a mood for change all over Himachal8221;. The Congress, according to him, has been unable to check price-rise and provide employment to people. Besides, there are allegations of corruption against the Congress regime, he said. Since the anti-incumbency factor worked against the BJP in the last elections, the party is out to employ the same weapon against the Congress with a vengeance now.

While the Congress struggles to come to terms with the fact it has been preempted by the Election Commission from the announcement of poll sops, the BJP has put its decision-making on the fast track. A meeting of the central election committee has been called here on October 22 to finalise the names of party candidates for the three constituencies, located in high hills, which go to the polls in the first phase on November 14.

The state election committee has recommended the names of Chet Ram Negi and Tejwant Negi for the Kinnaur ST constituency. There are two names for the Bharmour constituency too 8212; Tulsi Ram and Jia Lal. However, Ram Lal Markanday is the sole name recommended for the Lahaul seat.

The main challenge before the BJP, however, is the issue of leadership and not ticket distribution. Both former chief ministers, Shanta Kumar and Prem Kumar Dhumal, have strong claims over the top slot. Dhumal has recently demonstrated his mass base by winning the Hamirpur Lok Sabha by-election with a big margin of over 80,000 votes. Shanta Kumar is a veteran leader and enjoys a distinct respect. With their claims evenly balanced, the central parliamentary board may decide not to project either as the chief ministerial candidate and reveal its choice, as in the case of Uttaranchal, only after the polls.