Shimla, June 15: The three main parties – the Congress, the BJP and the CPM- intensified their efforts to woo 91,000 voters, who will cast their votes to elect 34 councillors of the Shimla Municipal Corporation on Friday. The parties resorted to blame game over the issues of water woes in Shimla and the mounting parking problems in the city.
While the Congress led by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh put up a united face during the campaign, the main rival BJP’s former Chief Minister PK Dhumal hit the campaign trail at the fag end.The candidates are banking mainly on their personal contact, rapport and relationships and getting support of their parties.
The Congress-backed candidates have put up banners featuring pictures of Virbhadra Singh, Harish Janartha, ticket contender from city, Kusumpati MLA Anirudh Singh along with the picture of PCC president Sukhwinder Sukhu. Virbhadra Singh addressed ward meetings in support of the candidates for three days. The Congress released its manifesto for Shimla city yesterday promising to improve basic amenities for the local inhabitants. The Congress blamed the BJP and the CPM for city problems as they held power in the SMC and the city.
The BJP has fielded 34 candidates. The party -backed candidates have put up pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, PK Dhumal, Shanta Kumar, Union Health Minister JP Nadda, BJP president Satpal Satti to create a wave in favour of its candidates. The BJP leaders held road shows to attract voters. Nadda, Satti, Shimla Lok Sabha MP Birender Kashyap and prominent leaders like Narender Bragta and Rajiv Bindal campaigned in different wards. The BJP also released its vision document for the city and targeted the Congress and the CPM for water crisis and jaundice outbreak in the city last year.
The CPM has fielded 21 candidates and is supporting six independents. The party is banking on the works its Mayor and Deputy Mayor did during the last five years. They targeted the BJP and the Congress for the city’s “water woes and jaundice outbreak”, claiming that they delivered a corruption-free and good governance and put in place mechanism for “quality water supply and management of waste in the city”.
Source Tribune India
