Who will win the capital?

Vishal Sharma, Shimla Correspondent

With assembly polls less than a month away, the speculations have already started as to who will next MLA from Shimla? Each individual has his or her own views in this regard. Bharatiya Janta Party stole the scene by declaring the sitting MLA from Shimla (Urban) Mr. Suresh Bhardwaj, as its candidate from the constituency in the first list of candidates released by it. The Congress was somewhat lost in the blame-game and infighting, so couldn’t choose the candidate at the earliest.

Former Mayor, Mr. Harish Janartha has been declared as its candidate by the Congress party. Sensing the public resentment against the congress and the BJP, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has also fielded Deputy Mayor Shimla, Mr. Tikender Panwar as its candidate. The fight on Shimla seat has always been 3 sided for the past many years.

In the 2007 assembly polls, BJP candidate Mr. Suresh Bhardwaj remained victorious followed by CPI (M) candidate Mr. Sanjay Chauhan, whereas Congress candidate Mr. Harbhajan Singh Bhajji remained at third position. The speculations are on as to who will win the capital this time. Some locals are well-satisfied with the development worked undertaken by the present government; whereas others say that Mission Repeat will be impossible to be materialized as BJP will have to face anti-incumbency as well.