Solan MC poll: BJP, Congress locked in close contest

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, April 6

A close contest between the BJP and the Congress is expected in the Solan MC elections on April 7.

The BJP and the Congress seem to have an edge in six to eight wards of the total 17 while an Independent candidate is giving these parties a tough competition in a ward. A close fight is expected in other wards.

Two former municipal council presidents are locked in a direct contest in Ward number 8; both are probable candidates for the two top posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

The Congress local leadership has little connect with the voters in Solan. Besides holding media briefings, the grassroots-level campaigning by poll conveners announced by Congress state in-charge Rajiv Shukla has largely been missing.

The BJP, on the other hand, has appointed five-time MLA Rajeev Bindal as the poll in-charge for Solan. Since Bindal himself had been a former chairman of the Solan civic body, he was well versed with local issues and also well known to the voters. The issue of discontent among voters in the areas merged with the corporation can, however, create problems for the BJP in a few wards though the Chief Minister has tried to allay their fears. Factionalism in both parties, as was visible in ticket allocation, will also be a factor to watch in the elections.