Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal is confident that the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party will return to power in the forthcoming state assembly election to be held in February next year.
Speaking to rediff.com in New Delhi on Tuesday Dhumal said that he has asked the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to campaign for the party in the state.
"I have no doubt that we will come back to power with a thumping majority. I have little doubt that the Modi magic would work here too," he said.
Asked why the people should vote for his party when there are no emotional issues unlike Gujarat, Dhumal said the people are bound to appreciate his party's developmental work.
On the perception that the people of Himachal Pradesh are known to reject the party in power in every election, he said, "This is not true. Congress party ruled from 1952-77. Then again Congress ruled the state from 1980-1990. We are hopeful that the people of the state would return the BJP to power."
On the achievements of his government, he said, "We are generating power, which is being distributed to other states. This is one of the major achievements of my government."
Union minister Shanta Kumar, who has been made in charge of the distribution of tickets for the poll, said that a series of meetings would be held on the issue.
"We are having our first meeting on Tuesday [December 24] at the residence of party president Venkaiah Naidu in which Arun Jaitley, Dhumal and myself would participate. Next week Jaitley will visit Himachal Pradesh for four days and we will have a series of meetings in Shimla from December 29 to January 1," he said.
According to party insiders Shanta Kumar is not comfortable with the idea of inviting Modi for campaigning.
At the peak of the post-Godhra riots, Shanta Kumar had asked for the resignation of Modi on moral grounds. Kumar had to eat his words later and apologise for his comments after his place in the Union Cabinet came under threat.
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