After poll drama long, agonising wait for Himachal results

After the high-pitched poll campaign in Himachal Pradesh came the record voters turnout (75 per cent) and now comes the boring part — the long and agonising wait of one and a half months for the results.

Even though the voting process got over on November 4, votes will be counted only on December 20, after counting for Gujarat polls on December 13 and December 17.

Many here are questioning the election commission’s decision to opt for such a long gap between the Himachal and Gujarat polls.

Since the model code of conduct for election was imposed in the first week of October,the sitting government will not be able to take any policy decision, as it is prohibited under the election rules.

Many opine that at least for the last few month, they have had interesting times — the hectic election campaign, the high-pitched election rallies, star leaders from all over the country flying into the hill state, and finally the record voting on Sunday— but now what next?

With the wings of the government clipped, functioning will come to a halt and the common man, says observers, will have to suffer as files are bound to collect dust in the coming days.

A languid lethargy has already descended in government offices, and as the sun rays in the hills subsides, many babus are more into gossip away the short autumn days rather than work. Bosses in government offices have become unusually lenient and fond of looking the other way. Since early October, babus have often been absconding from work and this ‘unofficial holiday break’ will continue for almost the rest of the year.

HP has one of the highest per capita ratio of government employees in the country. If hill side jokes are to believed, it is said that every household in the state has at least one member in a government job.

No wonder that government employees are the most powerful, influential and feared group here. Little surprise that all political parties go out of their way to woo them .

Whoever wins the election this time expect the new government will only be formed in the last part of December, so expect the government to wake up from a deep slumber only after the dawn of the new year !