Himachal bypolls: BJP keeps fingers crossed, Cong alleges poll violations

Shimla: As Himachal Pradesh goes to the bypoll on Monday for two Assembly constituencies, the ruling BJP is keeping its fingers crossed even as party sits pretty at Dharamshala and watchful at Pachhad against its rebel.

State BJP president Satpal Satti said, "Bypoll are contested on simple arithmetic, which revolves mainly around state government's popularity. Since there is nothing adverse against the BJP government, the outcome is going to be on predictable lines."

In all, there are 82,137 voters set to exercise their franchise at Dharamshala in Kangra district and another 74,487 in Pachhad.

"One auxiliary polling station at Dari old age home will facilitate 24 old age inmates in Dharamshala," said Rupali Thakur, Additional Chief Electoral Officer (Additional CEO) here as the arrangements were given final touches on Sunday.

Ruling BJP, which has fielded Vishal Nehria, a former ABVP activist from Gaddi community in Dharamshala, doesn't see many challenges from the Congress, currently in complete disarray with senior leaders like Sudhir Sharma, a former minister, keeping himself aloof, and making only a symbolic appearance on Saturday. Earlier, he had also declined to contest the poll at Dharamshala, a seat he had won in 2012.

The party has fielded Vijay Inder Karan. Though he also belongs to Gaddi community he faced a party rebel Rakesh Kumar – an OBC leader. Kumar appears to have campaigned well and managed to mobilise OBC voters in a much better way than the Congress candidate. The seat had fallen vacant on the election of Krishan Kapoor, a cabinet minister to the Lok Sabha

Congress 's senior leader G S Bali, who reached Kangra, on Saturday put up a show of strength by appearing with more than half a dozen party leaders, sitting Rajya Sabha Member Viplove Thakur, former and sitting MLAs. He tried to corner the BJP government on its failed promises.

"The BJP should be punished for ignoring Kangra. The voters should ask what the government has done for Dharamshala during the past 22 months," he asked.

In Pacchad, Dayal Pyari, a BJP candidate is more threat to the BJP than Congress 's Gangu Ram Musafir, a seven-time MLA and former Speaker. His dwindling base in the area and caste combinations could be to his disadvantage.