Mayawati says Himachal poll results will throw up surprises, analysts don't agree
Monday, December 10, 2007

Shimla, Dec 8 (ANI): After her party's success in Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati is now trying to make inroads into Himachal Pradesh.

For the first time, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has fielded candidates in all the 68 Assembly constituencies of the State, which has predominantly been dominated by the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Analysts say, if not much the BSP candidates will eat into the vote banks of the two leading parties. At the same time, they also believe that no third force other then the Congress and the BJP can emerge victorious.

Ramesh Sharma, a political analyst, said: "Basically, it is only the BJP and the Congress that are active in Himachal Pradesh politics. In the past too several parties, both national and regional have tried their luck, but have not made any major impact."

Quoting previous facts and figures in which the BSP was not able to capture more than two percent votes, Sharma said: "Heady with the success in Uttar Pradesh, the BSP feels it can repeat the same formula for success. However, the chances are zilch that the party will make a major impact."

Analysts, further say that the social structure of Himachal is different from that of Uttar Pradesh and that the social engineering formula of the BSP would not have a major impact on the people of the hill state.

But, the BSP candidates are optimistic.

"I feel the BSP is a good third alternative for the people of Himachal Pradesh. Whenever we have had a third party in Himachal Pradesh, people have had another choice and past records indicate that a coalition government has emerged with the support of the new party," said Randheer Ranta, a BSP candidate.

He further said that in the Rohru segment, where former Chief Minister P K Dhumal (BJP) was unable to influence the pro-Congress electorate, the BSP has garnered a good response.

At a rally in Shimla on Saturday, Chief Minister Mayawati appealed to the voters to vote for her party for sake of development and welfare of the all sections of the society.

The BSP chief said that her party is going to play an important role and the election results will be surprising for the people.

She also assured adequate reservations for the weaker sections of the state, adding that there is a need of reservations for the weaker sections of the society in the corporate sector,

Mayawati further said that the BSP is not only the party of weaker section and lower class, but is also working for the benefit of the upper class of the society.

Expressing hope the BSP will win more than fifty percent Assembly seats in the hill state, the party's Chief Ministerial candidate Vijay Singh Mankotia said that he would form the welfare government after winning the 11th Assembly elections.

The demand to regularise slums, sheds and dwellings for the poor has become the main poll plank in Shimla, the principal town in the state.

The Congress has made peace and harmony between people of different religions, castes or areas as its main electoral theme.

On the other hand, the BJP has made corruption, inflation and matters like unemployment the main election issues.

The term of the State Assembly is due to expire on March 9, 2008.

The first phase of elections was held on November 14. The second phase of polling will take place on December 19, and the counting of votes will take place on December 28. (ANI)
--MP