Unlike in the past, the poll arena in Himachal Pradesh is seemingly heading for a Centre versus state battle.

More precisely, among all other issues, the ‘Modi factor’ overshadows the poll debate in villages, offices, on streets, in coffee houses and just everywhere across the hill state, whether among people or party men.

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The political campaign, however, will go high profile in HP as ‘star campaigners’ reach here after the last date of withdrawal of nominations on 26 October.

The discussion on pros and cons of ‘Modi’s vision’ right from demonetisation to GST has gained steam as poll environs grip the state.

The Congress as a strategy has chosen to go with ‘development’ plank and leadership of six-time chief minister, Virbhadra Singh in 2017 polls, with ready answers on the failures of the Modi government.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has not declared its CM face so far, is banking on anti-incumbency in HP and rides high on ‘dominant’ Modi face in the run up to polls.

The party cites Modi wave of 2014 that had changed the historical trend in HP and despite Congress in the ruling in the state, the people elected BJP on all the four Lok Sabha seats.

“The sweeping victory of BJP in Parliament polls in 2014 was a kind of no confidence motion against the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh. The Assembly polls would put the final stamp on it by ousting Congress from power in the state,” said Sambit Patra, national spokesperson of BJP.

He said Modi’s vision and pro-poor policies have shown results and the party is going to polls in different states with that.

The BJP has also chosen to target chief minister, Virbhadra Singh and his son, Vikramaditya Singh aggressively on corruption cases.

However, the factor that puts the party in a fix in general political discussion is the induction of former Union minister, Sukh Ram and his son, Anil Sharma in Mandi. Sharma, who was minister in the Virbhadra government till few days ago, is now a BJP’s candidate from Mandi Assembly seat.

“My issue in polls is development in five years of Congress rule. The policies and programmes of Modi government are showing failure after three years of rule,” said CM, Virbhadra Singh.

The Congress men in the state project this as a last election that Virbhadra, 83, is leading in HP, as they subtly throw up the ‘emotional’ appeal.