Panna pramukh strategy pays off

Bhanu P Lohumi
Tribune News Service
Shimla, May 23

An unprecedented Modi wave and excellent booth management through panna pramukhs are behind the BJP’s landslide victory in the hill state, and no citadel of the Congress could withstand the deluge.

The BJP had deployed 1.46 lakh panna pramukhs for the four Lok Sabha seats in the state and they remained in constant touch with voters till the polling day. They were given the target of mobilising four to five per cent extra votes. However, they performed much better. 

Further, an increase of at least 5.86 lakh votes since the 2014 General Election and a rise in voting percentage from 64.45 to 72.25 led to a phenomenal increase in the margin and voting percentage of the party candidates.

The voters did not care about the candidate, ignored the issues raised by the Congress and local problems and voted for Modi, and the claims of “undercurrent” against the BJP governments at the Centre and in the state failed the test on the ground.

“The poll results are as expected. We were confident that the party will retain all four seats in Himachal with a record margin and the voters have proved us right,” said state BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti. He said the fight was not for retaining all four seats, but increasing the victory margin.

Party leaders said panna pramukhs played an important role and were instrumental in creating awareness about the schemes and initiatives of the Central and state governments. Besides Modi wave, it was their personal equation with the voters that helped in a landslide win in the state.

They said panna pramukhs were appointed and it was not possible for the candidates to personally approach each voter.