ABSTRACT
The Himachal Pradesh chapter draws the attention to the fact that the BJP won both seats like in the 2014 elections registering its highest ever polling of over 72%. More significantly, for the first time in the electoral history of the state it took lead in all the 68 assembly segments of the state’s two Lok Sabha constituencies. Another notable feature of this election was that the campaigns of the BJP and the Congress were led by a new generation of leaders. The state witnessed a strong but somewhat subdued undercurrent in favour of Modi leadership. Besides the ‘Modi effect’, the superior organisational strength, well-planned election campaign, and media management helped the BJP. In a state where the party in power at the centre always has an advantage, the BJP was able to spin a ‘narrative of hope’ and ‘perception of victory’ that helped despite a large percentage of respondents considering development and joblessness as the major issues in elections.
