In Shri Naina Deviji, parties invoke Indira, Vajpayee to seek votes

Thakur says Himachal Pradesh progressed after Indira Gandhi declared it as 18th state of the country on January 25, 1971. He also praises former CM Virbhadra Singh for ushering in development. BJP candidate Randhir Sharma, on the other hand, says projects and schemes initiated during BJP regime and led by PMs and CMs of the party proved to be game changer for Himachal Pradesh. Ram Lal Thakur is hard-selling the guarantees promised by Congress party in the hill State with “data” and “history” and lashes out at BJP for taking refuge in the name of Lord Rama.

BJP nominee Randhir Sharma (on cot) in a village during door to door campaign, while seeking votes in Shri Naina Deviji constituency. (Express Photo by Navjeevan Gopal)

“Those who promised to end inflation in 100 days are coming to you by taking refuge in the name of Lord Rama after failing to fulfil the aspirations of the youth, the women and the farmers. Lord Rama is ours also and is not a private limited company,” says Thakur. In Nilan village where he makes the address, houses en route are painted “Dekho acche dinon ka khel, 1000 rupaye cylinder, 100 rupaye tel”. The ongoiong construction work for a railway line makes commuting a bumpy ride.

Thakur tells the gathering why Congress has decided to give Rs 300 units of free power if it forms the government. “Himachal Pradesh is a power surplus State and has been giving extra power to central grid. But, going by the history, the money for power sold by Himachal Pradesh was not paid by many States. Uttar Pradesh government led by erstwhile Mayawati did not pay Rs 200 crore [due to us], Haryana did not pay Rs 150 crore, Delhi did not pay Rs 80 crore,” says Thakur, adding that if Congress was voted to power, the surplus power out of 15000 MW that the State produced would be used to provide free power to “people of the state.”

On the other hand, Randhir Sharma, is all praise for Atal Bihari Vajpayee for introducing Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PGMSY) to provide road connectivity to the villages. “I want to ask, did Congress introduce any welfare scheme?” he tells the electors at an election meeting in Bholi.

Sharma, a-two time legislator, who had contested unsuccessfully in 2017 from Shri Naina Deviji constituency, also showers heaps of praises on former chief ministers Shanta Kumar and then Prem Kumar Dhumal to take the hill State to newer heights with various welfare schemes. He also praises PM Narendra Modi and CM Jairam Thakur, while listing the achievements of the BJP government at Centre and Himachal Pradesh. Sharma questions Congress’s promise of giving Rs 1500 to women in Himachal Pradesh, saying it was ‘not financially viable in the State having a population of 35 lakh women.’

And he then takes a jibe at Congress, “Jis party ki apni guarantee nahi, vo logon ko guarantee kya degi.”