Lok Sabha polls 2019: Congress to focus on local issues in Himachal Pradesh

SHIMLA: In Himachal Pradesh, Congress party has decided to contest the Parliamentary elections on local issues. AICC incharge for state, Rajni Patil said that the party's focus would be on local issues concerning people of the state. She said that Screening committee would be held on March 17 and tickets would be finalized 4-5 days after that.
Patil said that Congress said that failed promises of BJP made to the people of state in 2014 parliamentary election and 2017 assembly election would be raised prominently in the campaign.
She said that in 2014, BJP had promised to increase import on apple but till date nothing has happened in this regard. She said that farmers of Himachal Pradesh are suffering huge loss due to heavy import of apple from countries like Australia and China as imported apple is cheaper than local produce.
She said that before assembly elections 69 national highways were promised but nothing has happened so far. Saying that the people were shown the dream of cheaper air travel, she added that people would be apprised during campaign about how BJP has not fulfilled its promises.
She said that Congress would contest election according to its devised strategy and would give tough competition in the state and will win the seats this time.
Patil informed that to decide about the candidates, screening committee meeting would be held on March 17 and final decision would be taken 4-5 days after that.
Congress has also objected the the BJP’s campaign “Mera Parivar, BJP Parivar” under which party is visiting the houses of beneficiaries of central and state governments schemes. Congress is terming it as complete violation of model code of conduct.
State Congress president Kuldeep Singh Rathore has demanded that Election Commission of India should take action against BJP and stop this campaign. He said the exposing the identify of beneficiaries of schemes of centre and state is breach of their right to privacy.
Expressing concern on the security of EVMs, he demanded that security of EVMs should be handed over to army.