A long, painful wait by both people and politicians has begun, after the culmination of a hectic poll process on 9 November. The fate of 337 candidates sealed in the VVIT machines will be known only on 18 December along with the people’s  own fate ~ whether the ruling Congress will retain power, or BJP will form the  new government.

The model code of conduct will remain in force till then and the government of Himachal Pradesh will stay somewhat paralysed. No new appointments and major decisions will be allowed to be taken (unless specially permitted by the Election Commission).

Many intelligent citizens in the state are against this long wait and the problems arising from partial non-governance for such a long time.

“How can the poll results of a small, remote hill state like Himachal affect the poll outcome of the distant Gujarat? The concerns and issues are totally different. Even if elections were to be held in a neighbouring state, there may be some unsubstantiated argument in it; but in this case, bracketing the poll results of these two states on the same day and continuing the code of conduct for such a long time in Himachal does not seem to be fair.”

By such a yardstick (it is argued), in this age of electronic media, all states should be under the Model Code of Conduct – perhaps all the year round. Polls keep taking place in one state or the other, apart from general elections to the top two representative bodies and local bodies like Panchayats.

In by-elections too, it can be argued, a whole state or the other concerned states could be put under the Code. Such views aired by academicians and leaders in the state merit serious thinking by the country’s legislative bodies.

This can save the Supreme Court’s valuable time, because this and other rules governing elections are bound to be challenged soon.

Incidentally, an NGO (Social Welfare Council of India) has demanded several modifications in the rules and procedures governing elections in a public statement issued here. It also demanded that the period of election campaigning should be 20 days for all state Assemblies and results should be declared within three days of polls.

Meanwhile, in all the market places and crowded areas like the Mall in major towns of the state people are being treated to heated  political speculation, astrological predictions, remedial religious rituals, etc. Most officials in the corridors of power have been throwing up excuses in the name of the code of conduct for not taking even ordinary decisions of governance.

The standard claims of both the Congress and BJP leaders that their own party will win with “a thumping majority” are being received with a pinch of salt and amusement. BJP leaders claim that record polling of votes (about 75%) for the 68 assembly seats in Himachal indicate “people’s mood for a change in government”.e Chief Minister  Virbhadra Singh has predicted a convincing victory for the Congress.

But contractors, minor functionaries in government and other sectors (who depend heavily on government patronage) do not want to take chances. The lucky number of Virbhadra Singh is said to be “5” – whereas Dhumal’s is reputed to be “9”.

When the results come out on 18 December, the victorious leader’s favourite number will become omnipresent in the state! Even the number plates of vehicles will change overnight  their total in each case should be the concerned “lucky” number! Many smart operators are getting ready with both the numbers.

But a veteran observer of politics over the last four decades says: “The fact is nobody knows at this stage – everything is only guess work. As always, the common voter is silent or just evasive”. But BJP workers’ mood is very upbeat, while Congress workers seem to be cautious. Overall, it’s like in a slow-motion movie.