New Delhi/Shimla,
Nov 1: The BJP has drawn out a rather aggressive campaign strategy to win
back the hill state of Himachal Pradesh - which holds a sort of record or so in
throwing out incumbent government after every five years.
While the BJP's campaign stars in next few days wold include the likes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi even as BJP national president Amit Shah is already on campaign tour of the state, the candidates of the ruling Congress party in the state are mostly left to sweat it out on their own -- at least for the time being.
As the Congress focus in mainly on Gujarat, that goes to the polls days after November 9 polling in Himachal, among key leaders cricketer-turned-neta Navjyot Singh Sidhu is likely to address a rally at Kangra on November 5.
Party's chief spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala is also expected to campaign for Sudhir Sharma in Dharamsala.
On the other hand, the BJP is going all out in politically significant hubs like Kangra, Chambi and Palampur.
Mr Modi's rallies have been proposed at Rehan in Nurpur on November 2, at Chambi in Shahpur on November 4 and Palampur on November 5.
In order to give the last minute boost to the party's campaign, the BJP chief on Tuesday announced that former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal will be party's Chief Ministerial face.
"This is from our Assam Model - wherein we successfully projected Sarbanad Sonowal and got huge benefits. There was no dilemma. It was only strategic," said a party leader in Delhi obviously referring to BJP's time-tested formula wherein votes are generally sought only in the name of the party and Mr Modi's name.
Mr Shah's announcement has given a fresh lease of life to the campaign as it also clear air among the confused cadres on who would be the Chief Minister. Prof Dhumal has been the state Chief Minister twice.
Mr Shah has already started campaigning and will hold few odd rallies till November 5-6.
The BJP has also roped in a known 'Hindu hardliner and nationalist' Yogi Adityanath, UP Chief Minister. He has already held rallies in Kangra district. Former Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Tuesday campaigned in Nurpur for party nominee Rakesh Pathania even as Prof Dhumal is making extensive tours of Kangra.
The BJP veteran Shanta Kumar has also been asked to do his part and detailed programmes are chalked out for him as well as hardly a week is left for election campaigning.
Reports from many Congress quarters in the state say the party candidates and workers are facing "resource crunch" and subsequently there is lack of cohesiveness in the campaign. However, Congress sources said few more rallies of party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi are being proposed as well. UNI
While the BJP's campaign stars in next few days wold include the likes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi even as BJP national president Amit Shah is already on campaign tour of the state, the candidates of the ruling Congress party in the state are mostly left to sweat it out on their own -- at least for the time being.
As the Congress focus in mainly on Gujarat, that goes to the polls days after November 9 polling in Himachal, among key leaders cricketer-turned-neta Navjyot Singh Sidhu is likely to address a rally at Kangra on November 5.
Party's chief spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala is also expected to campaign for Sudhir Sharma in Dharamsala.
On the other hand, the BJP is going all out in politically significant hubs like Kangra, Chambi and Palampur.
Mr Modi's rallies have been proposed at Rehan in Nurpur on November 2, at Chambi in Shahpur on November 4 and Palampur on November 5.
In order to give the last minute boost to the party's campaign, the BJP chief on Tuesday announced that former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal will be party's Chief Ministerial face.
"This is from our Assam Model - wherein we successfully projected Sarbanad Sonowal and got huge benefits. There was no dilemma. It was only strategic," said a party leader in Delhi obviously referring to BJP's time-tested formula wherein votes are generally sought only in the name of the party and Mr Modi's name.
Mr Shah's announcement has given a fresh lease of life to the campaign as it also clear air among the confused cadres on who would be the Chief Minister. Prof Dhumal has been the state Chief Minister twice.
Mr Shah has already started campaigning and will hold few odd rallies till November 5-6.
The BJP has also roped in a known 'Hindu hardliner and nationalist' Yogi Adityanath, UP Chief Minister. He has already held rallies in Kangra district. Former Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Tuesday campaigned in Nurpur for party nominee Rakesh Pathania even as Prof Dhumal is making extensive tours of Kangra.
The BJP veteran Shanta Kumar has also been asked to do his part and detailed programmes are chalked out for him as well as hardly a week is left for election campaigning.
Reports from many Congress quarters in the state say the party candidates and workers are facing "resource crunch" and subsequently there is lack of cohesiveness in the campaign. However, Congress sources said few more rallies of party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi are being proposed as well. UNI
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