Modi''s Ridge rally to blow poll bugle : The Tribune India

Join Whatsapp Channel

Modi''s Ridge rally to blow poll bugle

SHIMLA: The one-day visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Shimla on April 27 could not have come at a more opportune time for the BJP, which is making all-out efforts to derive the maximum political mileage from the visit ahead of the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) polls slated the next month.

Modi''s Ridge rally to blow poll bugle

Renovation of the Town Hall under way in Shimla. Tribune photo



Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 22

The one-day visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Shimla on April 27 could not have come at a more opportune time for the BJP, which is making all-out efforts to derive the maximum political mileage from the visit ahead of the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) polls slated the next month.

Since the first election of the corporation in 1986, the BJP never controlled the prestigious Municipal Corporation in the capital town and party leaders are determined to capture the SMC this time.

BJP leaders are planning a “roadshow” of the Prime Minister from the AG office Chowk to The Ridge, the venue of the party rally to woo the voters and achieve the mission of making the SMC also Congress-free.

The party is mobilising the maximum people from Shimla and Kinnaur and Rampur Assembly segments of the Mandi Lok Sabha seat and Bilaspur for the rally to put up a grand show to send a clear signal that the party would not only win the SMC polls, but also make a comeback in Assembly polls. The BJP has also appointed in-charges of all mandals of Shimla, Kinnaur and Bilaspur.

“The BJP will also carry out a four-day Swachhta Abhiyan and mass contact programme from April 23 to 26 in which all leaders and workers will clean their areas, besides inviting the residents for the historic Parivartan rally, said BJP spokesperson and in-charge, Shimla district, Mahindra Dharmani.

The Union Health and Family Welfare Minister will arrive here on April 25 while other top leaders, including former Chief Minister Perm Kumar Dhumal and state BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti, will also be here for making preparations for the rally.

Considered as trendsetter for the polls to be held later this year, the SMC elections are crucial for both Congress and BJP. The Congress, which lost control over the civic body after 26 years in 2012, is keen to stage a comeback and the BJP is going all out to win the polls and have its Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

In 2012, the elections were held directly for the post of Mayor and Deputy Mayor and both posts were won by CPM. The BJP and Congress bagged 12 and 10 seats in the 25-member House.

In 2007 polls, the Congress had 15 members, BJP eight and the CPI-M two while in first elections in 1986, BJP had won eight seats against six by Congress in 21 member house but Congress managed to install its mayor who won by toss as both BJP and Congress voted 10 votes each. However, the BJP bagged the post of Deputy Mayor.

In 1992, it was completely washout by the Congress which also swept the Assembly polls in 1993 but in 1997, the Congress lost the Assembly polls even after winning 23 out 25 seats in the SMC poll the same year.

Elections Parties

1986 – Congress (6), BJP (8)

1997 – Congress (23), BJP (2)

2002 – Congress (16), BJP (7)

2007 -- Congress (15), BJP (8)

2012 – Congress (10), BJP (12)


Govt, not Ridge, will sink with rally: Dhumal

Hamirpur: Former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said the Congress government in the state would sink, not The Ridge, after the proposed BJP rally which would be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 27.  He was reacting to the apprehensions of the Mayor of Shimla and Congress leaders that The Ridge was unsafe to conduct the rally and could sink following a huge rush. He said the first communist-led Municipal Corporation in  Shimla, then the Congress-led government in the state would topple after the rally. He said the state was reeling under the mafia raj and corruption. Dhumal said the PM was coming to Shimla on April 27 to launch the subsidised airfare scheme. He said the country was experiencing a new era of development. He said many development projects were delayed by the state government despite repeated reminders by the Centre. He said the BJP had demanded the state government to identify land for Central University, IIM, medical colleges and AIIMS so that these could be started. TNS

Party leaders plan a roadshow for PM

  • BJP leaders are planning a "roadshow" of the PM from the AG office chowk to The Ridge, the venue of the party rally, to woo the voters and achieve the mission of making the SMC also Congress-free
  • The party is mobilising the maximum people from Shimla and Kinnaur and Rampur Assembly segments of the Mandi Lok Sabha seat and Bilaspur for the rally to send a clear signal that the party will not only win the SMC elections, but also make a comeback in Assembly polls

Top News

Cash-strapped Congress gets fresh IT notice of Rs 1,700 crore, say party insiders

Cash-strapped Congress gets fresh I-T notice of Rs 1,800 crore

Ajay Maken addresses a press conference

Special court convicts 7 people in BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case

Special court convicts 7 people in BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case

The proceedings against Atiq Ahmad, his brother and prime ac...

Arvind Kejriwal's wife releases WhatsApp number for people to send messages for jailed AAP leader

Arvind Kejriwal's wife launches WhatsApp campaign to garner support for AAP leader

In a digital media briefing, Sunita says her husband has cha...


Cities

View All