By Baldev S. Chauhan, IANS
Shimla : Gathering snow clouds and icy winds could dampen the assembly election campaign as it enters the last phase in Himachal Pradesh.
This week the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress along with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have held a host of rallies ahead of the second and last phase of the polls Dec 19.
Besides local politicians and workers involved in hectic campaigning, big political stars are planning to fly virtually on alternate days between Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat – which too is holding assembly polls this month – to woo the crowds.
But as the political parties look skywards, they are naturally wary of the growing extreme cold and threat of snowfall in the mid hills and rainfall in the lower hills.
Much of December is usually cold but dry in the state. It usually gets snowy around Christmas when the first snowfall occurs. But this year the clouds have started gathering early.
The local weatherman says a western disturbance is already taking place over the hill state and snow and rain is not ruled out in the coming days.
This could be a huge setback for all political parties as the hill folk will be hard to pull out of their warm homes to listen to the speeches of campaigning politicians in the freezing cold and wet weather.
“I could have gone out to a local or national leader’s rally if the sun was out. But not when the sky is overcast and icy winds are rapping my door. I would definitely prefer to stay at home,” said one voter.
The Election Commission is prepared for a spell of bad weather Dec 19 when the second and last phase of polling takes place. It has already set Dec 22 as the next date of polling if by chance voting cannot take place due to bad weather Dec 19.
Voting for the first phase for the three tribal mountainous assembly seats of Bharmaur, Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur took place Nov 14 due to the threat of early snowfall.
Counting starts Dec 28.