Modi sounds poll bugle in Himachal, says follow UP, U'khand and Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged the people of Himachal Pradesh to vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party, saying they should follow the example of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi from where "fresh" winds of change are flowing into the hill state.

"Himachal Pradesh is awaiting an era of honesty. Earlier, we used to take out woollens after snowfall in Himachal Pradesh (as the chill spread to other states). But now the time has changed. The winds from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, even the fresh winds from Delhi, have arrived in Himachal Pradesh," he said addressing the BJP's parivartan rally in Shimla.

He was referring to the BJP's performance in assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and the results of the municipal elections held in Delhi earlier this week. 

In an apparent attack on state Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh of the Congress, he said he had hardly ever seen a chief minister spend so much time with lawyers. "Hope you understand...," he said referring to Singh facing charges of graft.

He urged the people to vote for the BJP and walk with him "on the path of honesty". He said it was time people ditched the corrupt for all-round development.

The prime minister said he would not spare those who had looted the country. "In elections, people stood with us as they want to be with the honest," he said.

The term of the Himachal Pradesh assembly ends on January 7 next year. The elections are likely to be held in November or December.

Modi also said that his government took "decisive decisions" and ensured that the benefits reached the last man in the queue.

"Those affected by the decisions of my government are surely not happy and would try to harm (us) but I am prepared," he said.