Arvind Kashyap/ Kasauli, Nov 9
Weaving the fabric of his campaign on the wrap and whoof of non performance, corruption, inflation, non governance and GST by the Modi government, the congress candidate Vinod Sultanpuri appears to be giving sleepless nights to his arch rival Bhartiya Janta Party’s Rajeev Sehjal. The BJP on the other hand is burning midnight burner to capture this rural voters dominated assembly segment for the fort for the fourth consecutive term.
This time, Rajeev Sehjal who was health minister, facing charges of lack of needed association with constituents in Jai Ram Thakur government also facing potential threat from AAP party’s candidate Harmel Dhiman who was picked up by the new party after he quit from BJP’s SC Morcha , a couple of months ago.
The current electoral battle is between BJP,s old war horse Rajeev Sehjal, a doctor by profession and congress’s Vinod Sultanpuri, an alumni of Lawrence school Sanawar and law graduate and son of six time member of parliament late KD Sultanpuri. And it seems to be turning fierce after the growing factionalism and burly opposition of both the candidates on party platform.
If a big section of BJP’s workers are staying away from party’s election campaign, the congress’ front line leaders, particularly certain loyalists of later Virbhadra Singh, who have opposed the candidature of Vinod Sulatnapuri appeared to be making their last ditch efforts to settle the political scores.
Kasauli assembly segment has a total of 68,463 voters out of which the females 33,185 and the male 35,270. The constituency that remained congress’s citadel till 2007 was captured by BJP’s Rajeev Sehjal by defeating congress’s Vinod Sultanpuri. Vinod had lost by a narrow margin of around 400 votes in 2017.
Taking advantage of his father’s image and deep rooted links across the segment, congress’s Vinod Sultanpuri is travelling miles to miles through tough hilly terrain to woo the electorates by highlighting the misdeeds of Modi government and non governance of BJP government and alleged failure of Rajeev Sehjal in carrying out massive development during his 15 years term. Congress, here was more focusing on the non performance of BJP’s sitting legislators and his subsequent failure in taking up the grievances of the constituents on various platforms. Besides, the adverse effects of skyrocketing prices , growing unemployment, anti farmers and anti youth policies and implementation of GST were the other issues being raised against BJP’s candidate.
“It is astonishing that the wrong economic policies of the Modi government along with poor governance has lead to sudden inflation thereby making the life of common man more miserable. The BJP government never focused on redressing the farmers’ problems including money menace, setting up of food processing units and other related industries across the constituency whereas congress during its rule had changed the face of the road network across the constituency,” remarked Vinod Sultanpuri.
Besides, other core issues, the congress’s poll managers are also strengthening their strategy to corner the BJP over developmental issues like poor conditions of roads, lack of medical staff in health and educational institutions and marketing networks to farming community
“The BJP always turned its back towards the solving of major grievances of the constituents and construction of link roads that always enabled the farmers to directly transport their cash crops to the markets. You will be surprised to know that a large number of villages are still without roads across the constituency ,” said Shiv Dutt Thakur, general secretary of DCC.
Intensifying their campaign, BJP’s poll managers appeared to be focusing on the development works carried out and the balanced development , especially opening up of SDM office, Sub Tehsil at Parwanoo, upgrading of schools, health institutions and others
“BJP has granted permission to set up educational institutions including a medical college in the private sector in the segment. This has virtually provided direct and indirect employment to the people of the area and it is surprising that congress is misleading the electorate over the developmental works carried out across the constituency during his term. “See– congress never bothered to open a government degree college, SDM office, sub tehsil at Parwanoo, setting up of multi crores lift drinking scheme at Giri river to tide over the potable water crisis in the segment and opening of the college at Dharampur to facilitate the young generation,” remarked Rajeev Sehjal.
Further, the BJP think tank are also centralising to cash upon the opportunity concerning the ‘ arrogant’ image and subsequent failure to construct a good and confidential team of experienced leaders, of the congress candidate. Since, he has secured the ticket owing to his proximity with Rahul Gandhi, the party men; especially those who had resisted his candidature seemed to have chosen to sit silently and shift them to other constituencies in the electioneering, making the battle a little tightrope walk to congress
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