Campaigning heats up in state ahead of urban local body polls

With two more days to go for the urban local body elections campaigning to end, both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress have intensified their efforts to woo voters.

- HT Correspondent

DEHRADUN:

The voting for 11 municipal corporations, 43 municipal councils and 46 nagar panchayats will be held on January 23, and the counting will be held on January 25. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is leading the BJP's campaign, while the Congress canvassing is being overseen by a range of leaders.

On Sunday, CM Dhami participated in four road shows at Banbasa in Champawat as well as at Khatima, Bajpur and Kashipur in Udham Singh Nagar. State Congress chief Karan Mahara participated in events held in Dehradun.

During campaigning, Dhami has focused his speeches on branding Congress as "anti-Sanatan", while telling voters that if Congress leaders are elected, they won't be able to deliver on their promises, as the BJP holds power in the state and at the Centre. He also mentioned "land jihad and thook (spit) jihad" in his speeches.

In Khatima, Dhami said the Congress was defaming Sanatan and indulging in politics of appeasement. "The Congress leaders addressed Sanatan as malaria, dengue and viral fever. Those who give such labels are standing before us," he said.