Campaigning for the Himachal Pradesh assembly polls had a good amount of emotional quotient. BJP’s star campaigner, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reaped rich dividends with his sustained emotive appeals. He tried to strike an emotional chord with the people of the state while referring to his visit to Himachal Pradesh as the homecoming.
From his claim to have relished local dishes to giving way to an ambulance by stopping his convoy at Chambi in Kangra district during his visit for campaigning have been taken again as an opportunity to depict his larger-than-life image. “Woh Kehte Hai Naa Ki Insaniyat Se Badkar Kuchh Nahi Hain (They say that nothing is bigger than humanity),” tweeted the BJP while sharing a video.
Congress’ star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi, in her speeches, too took up the majoritarian impulse to evoke emotions to connect with the people. In her speeches, she reminded the people of her grandmother former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s love for the people and the state.
Her role in Himachal Pradesh getting statehood and an identity that the people should be proud of, said Priyanka, adding that it was in Himachal Pradesh that Indira Gandhi wanted to live after retirement, which, however, could not happen as she was martyred.
Union Minister Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur broke down during an election meeting last month at Sujanpur while talking to his party workers as he recalled the love and support he and his father former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal have got from them.
The Congress, despite being in the Opposition, had won Mandi Lok Sabha and three assembly by-polls held in 2021 seeking votes in the name of six-time former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh as a tribute. This time too, in his absence, the Congress urged the people to vote for the party on the development works done by him, which helped in taking the state forward.
Emotive slogans, publicity material and social media were widely used to arouse public sentiments by the political parties in the fray.
Traditional rivals were banking on slogans. The BJP mainly harped on ‘Raj Nahi Rivaz Badlega’ (Tradition will change, and not the rule), while the Congress amongst many of those talked about fulfilling promises – ‘Wada Kiya Hai Wada Nibhayenge/Congress Ko Satta Mein Layenge’ (Promise has been made. It will be fulfilled. The Congress will be brought to power).
Even the state leaders too were not behind in joining the bandwagon.
Sitting BJP MLA from Churah and Deputy Speaker Hans Raj said that he had left no stone unturned to work for the upliftment of the people of his constituency and it is being said that he will not win the elections this time.
BJP seven-time MLA and Minister Mahender Singh Thakur and his son Rajat Thakur, who replaced him this time to contest from Dharampur assembly segment, were in tears while addressing a public rally.
Getting emotional, Shashi Bala, BJP woman candidate from Rohru in Shimla district, wept on the stage targeting the opposition Congress for tarnishing her image and accusing her of corruption.