The peaks of the Kinnar Kailash facing Kalpa are laden with snow, but the atmosphere in the tribal constituency of Kinnaur is all heated up due to the polls scheduled for late next week. This despite the fact that the election campaign is restricted to journeys on foot by the candidates. There are no big rallies or roadshows here, as most of the voters live in the valleys and clusters up on the mountain peaks, few of them accessible by roads. “Since we have got just a fortnight to campaign, the candidates may not be able to reach every village. However, local booth committees have taken the campaigns to the doorsteps. The campaign material have also been distributed,” says Khem Singh, BJP’s election-office in-charge at Reckong Peo.It is from here that the Congress hopes to sweep the tribal belt which will for the first time be going to the polls ahead of 65 other Assembly constituencies. Two-time MLA and Congress candidate Jagat Singh Negi seems to be on strong ground in his home turf. The villagers admit being traditionally with the Congress and loyal to Raja Sahib, CM Virbhadra Singh. “Of course, ‘Raja Sahib’ is a popular state leader,” says a group of first-time voters nearby. But it’s not going to be as easy as it sounds. The tribals don’t seem impressed by what the Congress Government has done for them in the past four-and-half-years. Ironically, Virbhadra Singh has always been accused of pampering the tribals, especially those in Kinnaur. “The funds in the tribal sub-plan have often been misused or diverted, even left unutilised. It’s only during the elections that he comes out with misleading details of development works in the tribal belt,” alleges BJP candidate Tejwant Negi.But Jagat Singh Negi will have nothing of it. “I dare Tejwant Negi to reveal the details of the funds misuse. Only, the BJP does such things to deprive tribals of their legitimate rights to development. Hundreds of crores have been invested on roads, social infrastructure and welfare of the people,” he maintains.“The people will evaluate the individual standing of the candidates, and also his personal goodwill before casting their vote,” says Hira Seru. The Congress loyalist doesn’t believe the CM’s appeal alone will do the trick this time. “We are disappointed with sitting MLAs as well as the Congress. Both have failed to fulfil the promises made to the people in 2003,” he adds.
