At a time when Congress and BJP leaders are fighting for tickets in New Delhi for the Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, CPI(M) has started campaigning after declaring 14 candidates in the state.
CPI(M) candidate from Shimla and former city mayor Sanjay Chauhan began his campaign in Jakhu areas of the town.
“I am among the people again. Our party has a pro-people agenda. We are opposing anti-people policies of both Congress and BJP,” he said.
Chauhan said when he was the mayor, he tried to provide facilities to the people of the town. But “there was not much cooperation from the state government (led by Congress’s Virbhadra Singh). Now the BJP in Shimla MC is playing havoc with the system.”
He said during his tenure, efforts were made to repair pipelines. “The result is before us today. We are getting 40–50 MLD water a day.”
Chauhan has a strong base in Shimla, having won 18,000 votes in the 2012 mayoral election that he retained during polls for Shimla (Urban) assembly seat. He was mayor till June this year, when Kusum Sadret of BJP replaced him.
The other big name from the Left party is Rakesh Singha, who had won the Shimla (Urban) seat in 1993 by a margin of 159 votes. He contested the last election from Theog in 2012 and secured more than 10,000 votes.
{{/usCountry}}The other big name from the Left party is Rakesh Singha, who had won the Shimla (Urban) seat in 1993 by a margin of 159 votes. He contested the last election from Theog in 2012 and secured more than 10,000 votes.
{{/usCountry}}Two other Left candidates, Balak Ram and Paras Ram made it to the assembly in the 1967 general elections. Tulsi Ram won from Balh in 1972.
Himachal Pradesh goes to polls on November 9, and results will be announced on December 18.