The ‘Modi wave’ is not working in Gujarat leave aside Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh claimed today even as he indicated that he may contest the upcoming state polls from the Theog constituency.
The polls in the hill state will be held on November 9 and results declared on December 18, the Election Commission has announced. “I will win comfortable from any constituency with a huge margin but sitting MLA from Theog, Vidya Stokes, and the Theog BCC (Block Congress Committee) have requested me to contest from Theog,” he said adding that he would make his decision known in two-three days. Virbhadra Singh said he also had offers to contest from many constituencies including Chopal and Arki.
The chief minister has left his Shimla (Rural) seat for son Vikramaditya Singh, who has already applied for the Congress ticket. No sitting MLA would be unnecessarily axed and a list of candidates that has almost been finalised would be announced soon, the chief minister said. I am in the election mode for the past more than six months and am sure that the Congress would get absolute majority, he said. Asked about the presence of a ‘Modi wave’ in the state, chief minister said that when the “Modi wave is not working in Gujarat…How can it have any impact in Himachal when the people are annoyed over the imposition of GST and problems caused by demonetisation”.
Virbhadra Singh said that he would contest from a single constituency only and would campaign throughout the state.
“I am already campaigning for past six months and sure that the Congress would repeat its performance in the state. The manifesto of Congress party is also ready and being given final touches,” he said. It would be development and welfare oriented and all sections of the society would be taken care of, he said. The chief minister dismissed allegations by the BJP that he was laying foundation stones without any budgetary provision and said that he would resign if it was found that even a single foundation stone had been laid without making provisions in the budget.
