Shimla: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday claimed the Union government’s decision of demonetisation and implementation the goods and services tax (GST) had no bearing on the party’s prospects in the Himachal Pradesh elections scheduled on 9 November.
Elaborating the BJP’s campaign programme in which Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath would be a major campaigner, party leader J.P. Nadda said in Shimla that not declaring the party’s ministerial face in Himachal Pradesh elections was a part of the BJP’s strategy, which differs from state to state. “The BJP is heading for a landslide victory in the assembly polls as people are fed up with the corrupt Congress rule with the chief minister on bail leading the party,” he said, apparently referring to money laundering and disproportionate assets cases against Virbhadra Singh.
Denying that the sudden demonetisation of currency in November last year and the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) have backfired, the Union health minister said the steps have instead taken India economically forward. The problems linked with the steps were being resolved, he said.
The union minister sought to partially lay the blame on other political parties over its criticism by them on the GST. The GST was not Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s or the BJP’s decision alone, but also of other political parties and chief ministers represented on the GST Council, he said.
Nadda said the Congress was raising the issues to derive political advantage. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, Union ministers and several other leaders would campaign for the party. Modi is to visit the state on 2, 4 and 6 November. He would address rallies at Rehan in Fatehpur and Dhaulakuan in Sirmaur on 2 November, his programmes for 4 and 6 November were being finalised, he said.
Uma Bharti and General V.K. Singh would campaign for 2-3 days. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath would address rallies at Renuka, Arki and Karsog on 29 October, and in Nalagarh, Nagrota and Dadasiba on 30 October. Haryana and Uttarakhand chief ministers Manohar Lal Khattar and Trivendra Singh Rawat would also campaign. Union finance minister Arun Jaitley would release the party’s “Vision document” on 29 October.