Cold weather dampens Himachal poll campaign

Dec 14, 2007, 14:21 GMT

Shimla, Dec 14 (IANS) Snow, sleet and icy winds continued for the fifth consecutive day across Himachal Pradesh, further frustrating political campaigning for the Dec 19 last phase of state assembly elections.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader and former foreign minister Yashwant Sinha was unable to address a public rally in Shimla as his flight could not take off from New Delhi.

He was also scheduled to address the BJP's rally of intellectuals here.

The sun dawned bright early Friday but clouds gathered rapidly and by noon the town experienced a hailstorm followed by light snowfall, turning the landscape white and bringing on freezing cold.

Braving the cold and wet weather, various candidates and their supporters went on door to-door campaigning in most of the upper hills of the state as people preferred to stay indoors.

Film actress Hema Malini of the BJP lent a touch of colour and glamour to a chilly and gloomy day as she campaigned for the BJP candidates in Shimla and nearby Arki seat. Throngs of people turned up to see the Hindi filmdom's dream girl of yesteryears in a politician's role.

She then walked down the breezy Mall in downtown Shimla late Friday, waving at residents and urging them to vote for the BJP.

Congress leader Satpal Maharaj was unable to hold a rally in Shimla's Chopal area due to snow.

The Hindustan Tibet Road among other link roads in the upper hills continued to be blocked by heavy snowfall of the past few days.

In lower hills of the state, the weather was not as harsh and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh of the Congress was able to hold a few thinly-attended election rallies in Kangra district, the state's most populous district.

The BJP's projected chief ministerial candidate, Prem Kumar Dhumal also held a few small rallies in Kangra and Una districts when the skies held during the day.

On Thursday, a nervous Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswamy said here he feared low voting in the 576 polling stations spread over six districts of the state if the inclement weather continued.

He urged election officials to make all efforts to hold smooth polling despite the wet and cold weather.

'In case polling cannot take place at certain places Dec 19, it will take place Dec 22,' Gopalaswamy said.

He said helicopters were kept at standby to airlift polling material in some high-mountain, remote pockets of the state.

The first phase polling has already taken place in the three tribal seats of Bharmaur, Lahaul & Spiti and Kinnaur Nov 14.

Counting is scheduled for Dec 28.

The state has a population of around 6.3 million.

According to Chief Electoral Officer Manisha Nanda, 44,77,254 voters will cast votes for the 65 assembly seats in the second and last phase of polling Dec 19.

There are 324 candidates in the fray. The Arki assembly seat in Solan district has the largest number of candidates at nine.

While the BJP, the Congress and the BSP have fielded candidates for all seats, the Lok Janshakti is contesting 38 seats, and the CPI(M) seven seats. A total of 38 independents are also contesting.

According to Nanda, there are 5,934 polling stations for 65 assembly segments.

© 2007 Indo-Asian News Service