Page 55 - Himachal Pradesh

Dubious video, poster war, infighting: Fatehpur, a hotspot in HP polls

A poster war, a controversial video clip and the BJP 'infighting' have made Fatehpur constituency on the northwest border of Kangra district a hot seat in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections. Fatehpur, known for its Pong Dam wetlands where migratory birds from Siberia and northern China arrive, has become the political hotspot ever since the BJP roped in its three-time Nurpur MLA Rakesh Pathania. The saffron party has nominated Pathania, the state youth services and sports minister, to contest from the seat, much to the dismay of former Rajya Sabha MP Kripal Parmar. Pathania holds sway in at least 15 panchayat areas which were part of his Nurpur constituency before the delimitation ahead of 2012 polls. Parmar, who was a frontrunner for the party ticket, has been expelled from the party along with four other rebels for six years for contesting as an independent candidate. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been losing the seat since 2003, except for 2007 when Rajan Sushant wo

Winds of change blowing across Himachal: Sachin Pilot in Palampur

Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Sunday said that winds of change are blowing across Himachal Pradesh and exuded confidence that his party will form the government in the state

Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections: Small constituencies, but big issues

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to pay one more visit to Himachal Pradesh on November 11 after visiting it over the weekend

Only Cong can challenge BJP in Gujarat, Himachal polls; AAP incapable: Azad

Former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday said that only Congress could challenge BJP in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, while AAP is "merely a party of UT Delhi"

BJP defeat in HP will lay foundation of Oppn unity in 2024: JDU's KC Tyagi

JDU leader K C Tyagi on Sunday urged voters of Himachal Pradesh to elect a Congress government in the state to lay the foundation of opposition unity ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He said there is a need for a strong alternative to the BJP and only the Congress can defeat the saffron party. "There is a need for a strong alternative to the BJP for which Bihar Chief minister Nitish Kumar has launched a campaign. Himachal Pradesh elections are important because it will lay the foundation of the opposition campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls," he said in a press conference at the Congress office here. "If the Congress wins from here then it will prove to be a milestone for the 2024 Lok Sabha election," he said. "The Congress victory here will clear the path for opposition in 2024 polls," he later told PTI. Tyagi, who is the general secretary of the JDU, which has now switched sides and is in a coalition government in Bihar with RJD and Congress, said he did not agree with .

Congress alleges PM pressuring rebel BJP leader against contesting HP polls

The Congress Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "pressuring" a rebel BJP leader against contesting the Himachal Pradesh assembly polls and alleged he is "misusing his power" to influence free and fair elections. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi cited a viral video on social media platforms, claiming that in it Modi's voice is heard in a call with BJP rebel Kripal Parmar. Singhvi alleged the prime minister was "pressuring" and "emotionally blackmailing" the leader over the phone not to contest as an Independent from Kangra district's Fatehpur seat. At a press conference at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters, he claimed such developments reflect that the prime minister has got a "problematic priority list which is inverted and distorted". "Not governance, but electioneering is the favourite job of the BJP government and its chief executive," Singhvi said. "The prime minister is misusing his power to influence free and fair elections. This wou

Himachal Pradesh polls: UCC, sops for women, farmers in BJP's manifesto

BJP president J P Nadda on Sunday promised Uniform Civil Code (UCC), 33 per cent reservation for women in government jobs, new educational institutions and sops for different segments as he released the party's manifesto for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls. A mix of Hindutva, development and welfare promises underpinned the 'sankalp patra', with Nadda also releasing a separate manifesto for women, a voting segment where measures like free grains, cooking gas connections and toilets have drawn favourable response for the BJP in different polls. With less than a week left for assembly polls in his home state on November 12, Nadda promised creation of 8 lakh jobs, including government, cycles for girl students in classes six to 12th and scooters for girls pursuing higher education and five new medical colleges if his party retained power. A new BJP government will also order a survey of Waqf properties to prevent their "illegal" use, he said. Releasing the BJP's 'Sankalp Patra', .

Himachal polls: Congress a 'guarantee' of corruption, nepotism, says Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday cautioned the people of Himachal Pradesh against "selfish groups", saying they call themselves 'kattar imaandaar (very honest)' but are the most corrupt and conspire to divide the society. His remarks were seen by many as an attack on the Aam Aadmi Party which often describes itself as 'kattar imaandaar' and is also in the fray along with the Congress to challenge the BJP in the hill state. Attacking the grand old party, he alleged that the Congress means a "guarantee" of corruption, selfish politics and nepotism. The BJP's work and resolve are strong while in the Congress there is uncertainty, indecisiveness and anarchy, Modi said. Himachal Pradesh needs a BJP government as that will provide stability to it, he asserted. Elections to the 68-member Himachal Pradesh assembly will be held on November 12 and counting of votes will take place on December 8. "For three decades there was instability in Delhi, governments came and went, thousands

Congress ignored Himachal because of low representation in LS: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attacked the Congress, saying it always ignored Himachal Pradesh as the state was small and sent only "three to four MPs" to the Lok Sabha. "Together, we will take Himachal forward, start a new 'riwaaz' (precedent) and bring the BJP back to power," Modi said at a poll rally in Sundarnagar here. The hill state has a history of not electing the same party to power for two consecutive terms. The BJP is in power in the state and is leaving no stone unturned to retain it. "Himachal Pradesh, being a small state, was always ignored by the Congress. That party did not consider three four MLAs in the Lok Sabha politically significant," Modi said. "Because of their mindset, the Congress never gave priority to Himachal's development and the state fell behind," he added. Modi also accused the Congress of corruption and said the grand old party committed its first scam in the defence sector. "During its regime, the Congress always took commissions in .

Congress in HP promises to restore old pension scheme, 300 units free power

For the youth, the party has announced to set up a commission for them to look into their issues of education and employment generation.

Congress releases party manifesto for Himachal Pradesh assembly polls

The Congress on Saturday released its manifesto for the November 12 Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections in the presence of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. The party has promised to implement the old pension scheme, 30 units of free power and Rs 10 crore 'StartUp fund' in each constituency. Others present at the party's poll manifesto release included AICC in-charge for Himachal Rajeev Shukla, former PCC chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and AICC secretaries Tejinder Pal Bittu and Manish Chatrath. Party's poll manifesto committee chairman Dhani Ram Shandil said the BJP has failed to live up to the expectations of people and not fulfilled the promises made five years ago. "This is not just a poll manifesto but a document prepared for the development and welfare of the people of Himachal Pradesh," Shandil said. The Congress is banking on anti-incumbency factor and urging voters not to reelect the BJP in the state.

EC mourns demise of first voter of independent India, Shyam Saran Negi

Negi, 106, died of natural causes at his residence in morning and will be cremated with full state honours later in the day.

HP Assembly polls: 'Cong promises jobs, old pension scheme', says Priyanka

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday said her party will provide 1 lakh jobs, restore the Old Pension Scheme and provide financial assistance of Rs 1,500 to every woman in the state if it is voted to power in the upcoming Assembly polls. Addressing a rally here, Vadra said the Congress will also fight the drug menace, which is ruining the future of the youth and build English-medium schools in every Assembly constituency. She also targeted the state government, saying the state has "drowned" in debt under the BJP dispensation and 63,000 government posts are lying vacant. Citing the work done by the Congress in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, the only two states where the party is in power on its own, Vadra said her party will fulfil its promises in Himachal as well. "The Congress will create 1 lakh jobs... Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is sitting here, he has provided 5 lakh jobs in three years. The Congress government in Rajasthan has provided 1.30 lakh jobs,"

Himachal polls: Priyanka Gandhi to address rally in Kangra district today

With elections just around the corner, Congress has promised that it will restore the old pension scheme (OPS) in the first cabinet meeting as soon as it forms the government

Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls: PM Modi to address two rallies on Nov 12

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address two rallies in Sindar Nagar and Solan on Saturday in his campaign for the BJP in the Himachal Pradesh assembly polls scheduled for November 12. Official sources said he will also visit Radha Soami Satsang in Beas in Punjab. The sect has a large following in the hill state as well. The BJP will release its 'vision document' (manifesto) for Himachal Pradesh a day later in Shimla on Sunday. It was earlier expected to be released on Friday. The BJP is in power in the state and is pulling out all stops to remain in the saddle by breaking the precedent of the incumbent being voted out.

1 mn Agniveers ready to serve borders, says UP CM Yogi Adityanath

He was speaking during an election rally in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday

Himachal's high debt-GSDP ratio makes poll freebies promises a tough task

Though comparatively prosperous than other Indian states, Himachal has a huge debt-GSDP ratio

Himachal Assembly polls: A total of 5,093 cast vote through postal ballot

The number of postal ballot cast were 366 in Kangra, 297 in Kullu, 1,991 in Mandi, 528 in Una, 838 in Bilaspur, 315 in Solan, 669 in Shimla, and 89 in Kinnaur

Himachal Assembly polls: J P Nadda to release BJP's manifesto on Friday

BJP president J P Nadda will release on Friday the party's 'vision document' (manifesto) for the Himachal Pradesh assembly polls. The elections to the 68-member assembly is scheduled for February 12. Party sources said Nadda would release the manifesto in Shimla on November 4. They added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address at least two public meetings each on November 5 and 9. On Saturday, he will address rallies in Mandi and Solan, they said. The BJP is in power in the hill state and is pulling out all the stops to remain in the saddle by breaking the precedent of the incumbent being voted out.

Extreme weather event seen on almost 90% days in first 9 months: CSE report

India recorded an extreme weather event on almost 90 per cent of the days in the first nine months of this year, with Himachal Pradesh logging the highest number of human deaths, according to a new report. These disasters claimed 2,775 lives, affected 1.8 million hectares (ha) of crop area, destroyed over 4,16,667 houses and killed close to 70,000 livestock, stated the report, 'Extreme Weather Report 2022', released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). This estimation of loss and damage is probably an underestimate as data for each event is not collated, nor are the losses of public property or crop loss calculated, the green think tank said. "India recorded extreme weather events on 241 of the 273 days from January 1 to September 30 this year. This means that close to 90 per cent of the first nine months of this year, India had an extreme weather event breaking in one or more parts of the country," the report read. At 140, Madhya Pradesh saw the highest number of days