Shimla, May 15 (UNI) Election fever gripped the town as door-to-door campaign for Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) elections began today with contestants trying to woo voters with promises to solve problems facing people in their respective ward.

In Krishnanagar ward reserved for Women, the contest is among the Congress, BJP and CPI(M). All the contestants -- Kaushalaya (Congress), Vandhna (BJP) and Tripti CPI(M) -- are first-timers.

Regularisation of illegal Dhabas and basic amenities are the main issues of all parties here.

In Nabha, the Congress and BJP are the main contestants with both parties giving chance to new faces Amit Nanda and Gaurav Sharma respectively.

Civic facilities and beautification of ward figures as a prime issue on the agenda of Congress for these election against BJP which holds the seat and was counting on work done during its tenure.

In Ward Phagli, Congress has given ticket to Shashi Shekhar an old face in the SMC elections who has won twice from Nabha and once from Phagli and has also served as the Deputy Mayor twice. The BJP has given a second chance to Sanjay Sood to contest the SMC elections.

Elections to Shimla Muncipal Corporation has getting tougher for the three main parties in the absence of any major issue to rally around.

Issues like price hike, drinking water scarcity, PMT scam and Jaundice outbreak are common to all and required to be solved at a larger forum.

The contestants to SMC are focussing on local issues affecting population in a particular ward and those able to project efficiently their plans to answer such problems will emerge as winners.

UNI