The election picture is clear in Himachal Pradesh. The BJP and Congress are in direct competition. The Aam Aadmi Party, which is focused on Gujarat, is not campaigning wildly in Himachal. The Prime Minister and others will campaign in the coming days. Voting is on the 12th.
The deadline for submitting nomination papers is today. Chief Minister Jairam Thakur is contesting from the Seraj constituency, which he has won five times. Although the BJP has not yet announced its chief ministerial candidate, Jayaram Thakur himself is leading the campaign.
In the first phase of the campaign, the BJP has the upper hand. Both Modi and Amit Shah will reach the state soon. The main challenge for the Congress is that it does not have a face to highlight in the absence of former Chief Minister Veerabhadra Singh. Veerabhadra Singh's wife and Congress president Pratibha Singh MP is the face of the state Congress but is not contesting. Priyanka Gandhi is leading the Congress campaign as Rahul Gandhi is on the Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Priyanka will participate in eight rallies next week. 40 star campaigners, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul, and new president Mallikarjun Kharge, will visit the state. The Aam Aadmi Party is also trying to gain ground by promising the Punjab-Gujarat model. Although the candidates have already been announced, the party's focus is on Gujarat. In the final phase, leaders including Kejriwal and Sisodaya will campaign.
It is estimated that the anti-incumbency sentiment is strong in the state where the BJP and the Congress alternately come to power. Congress is hoping to take advantage of this and return to power.
