Himachal Pradesh BJP president and three-time MLA Satpal Satti is set to face Satpal Raizada of the Congress in the November 9 Assembly elections, with both promising development in the State if voted to power.
The Una constituency, on the Punjab boundary and considered the gateway to the Kangra region, is throwing up a keen contest.
As the election campaign enters its final leg, political heavyweights of the two main parties are canvassing in the State to drum up support for their party candidates.
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Mr. Raizada was defeated by Mr. Satti in the previous Assembly election in 2012. However, this time, the Congress has once again reposed faith in him.
Mr. Satti is seeking votes on the ground that the Union government has taken up development projects in the constituency. The BJP leader, who was busy with preparations ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally here on Sunday, talked about the BJP’s development agenda and vision for the hill State if the party is voted to power.
He won his first election in 2003 by a margin of 51 votes.
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Charges of corruption
Attacking the ruling Congress, Mr. Satti said, “They indulged in rampant corruption and looted the State. Various mafia flourished under their regime. But when we come to power, we will provide a clean and transparent administration.”
He talked about many sanctioned and upcoming central projects for Una, including the PGI satellite hospital, another 500-bed mother-child health centre, Indian Oil Corporation’s oil terminal and the Indian Institute of Information Technology.
Mr. Raizada said traders, especially in urban areas, had been hit hard by demonetisation and the GST.
He said the Congress government in the State had undertaken all-round development and the pace of progress would be accelerated if the party returned to power.
The Congress is also banking on star campaigners like Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu to bolster support here as the majority speaks Punjabi.