Himachal’s capital, falling under the Shimla (Urban) constituency, is likely to battle it out on the mass connect appeal, as candidates display show of strength during the filing of the nomination papers.

As many as 5 candidates filed their nominations for the Shimla (Urban)  on the last day on Monday, making the contest keener.

If the show of strength is anything to go by for the candidates, in the fray for the elections, it seems that the humility and rapport is likely to be a game changer. The filing of nominations by an avid Congress worker, Harish Janartha, as an independent candidate to a great extent changed the dynamics, giving the voters an opportunity to the voters to rise above party lines while giving their mandate to the rightful candidate.

Harish Janartha is known to have evolved an accord of his supporters, on Sunday, a day ahead of the last date of filing of the nominations, before jumping into the fray to contest the elections as an independent candidate.

Over thousand of voters accompanied Harish Janartha to the venue of the filing of nominations, thereby exhibiting his mass appeal.

A similar parallel, show of strength was also exhibited by the BJP candidate Suresh Bhardwaj, which is an indication that the election to the Shimla Urban seat is likely to be a tough contest between the BJP and an independent candidate.

Suresh Bhardwaj is a three timer BJP legislator, who has won the Shimla (Urban) seat consecutively from the Shimla (Urban) in 2007 and 20012 Assembly elections.

Going by the previous history, Harish Janartha is known to be Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh’s loyalist, and it is not the first time that Harish Janartha was denied the party ticket to contest an election.

On previous occasion, in the 2002 Shimla Municipal Election Harish Janartha, as a Congress rebel, after being denied party ticket to contest the councillor elections fought the elections, defeating the Congress official candidate.

“I do have reservations that the Congress party ticket was denied to me despite being a dedicated worker. Consensus was evolved by my supporters who were the deciding factor for my contesting the elections and I will not back out,” said Harish Janartha after filing of his nomination papers.

Besides, BJP candidate Suresh Bhardwaj and Harish Janartha, others who filed the nominations for the Shimla (Urban) seat include Harbhajan Singh Bhajji Congress candidate, Sanjay Chauhan Communist Party of India.