Himachal byelections: Modi, Shah, Priyanka, Rahul among star campaigners stay away from campaign
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As the July 10 byelections in Himachal Pradesh enter their final round, the absence of star campaigners from both the BJP and the Congress has become a notable feature of this election. Despite speculation, no prominent national leaders have made appearances in the campaign.
Priyanka Gandhi, Congress national general secretary, visited Shimla, raising expectations of her campaigning in Dehra. However, this did not materialise.
With no indications of any high-profile visits in the last stages, the byelections for Dehra, Hamirpur and Nalagarh have largely been driven by local leadership.
The responsibility for the outcome rests squarely on the shoulders of Himachal’s leaders.
Former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and BJP president Dr Rajiv Bindal are leading the BJP’s efforts while Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Mukesh Agrihotri and Pratibha Singh spearhead the Congress campaign.
Both parties have invested significant efforts in rallying local support, focusing on issues pertinent to the constituencies.
The campaign period, which has lasted nearly a month, will conclude soon as voters head to the polls on July 10. The discourse has centered on local concerns rather than national issues, marking a shift from previous by-elections where star campaigners played a crucial role.
In the last by-election for six seats, national leaders from both parties held public meetings and set the tone, resulting in the government winning four seats and the BJP securing two.
This time, despite the submission of star campaigners’ lists to the Election Commission, including names like Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Jagat Prakash Nadda, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, none of these leaders have campaigned in Himachal Pradesh.
In Dehra, Chief Minister Sukhu’s wife Kamlesh Thakur is the Congress candidate, attracting significant attention to this constituency. The BJP’s efforts, however, have faced challenges, particularly in addressing internal dissent. The party has struggled to placate discontented leaders such as former BJP minister Ramesh Dhawala.
Overall, the outcome of the byelections will depend heavily on the local leadership of both parties. With national figures absent, state leaders have shouldered the campaign’s responsibilities, striving to secure victories for their respective parties.
