The Congress has shed its over-confidence, which had cost it dearly during the LS polls and is more cautious now. The BJP, strengthened by the poll alliance with Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC), finds itself in an advantageous position. For the ruling combine, the elections are not only a question of prestige but also of proving the stability of the Government.

On the other hand, the Congress, which was the first party to finalise its poll strategy this time, proposes to involve senior Central leaders in the campaign and scores of former ministers and sitting (even defeated) MLAs have been assigned specific duties. Party leadership knows it well that unless Congress wins all the four seats, the balance of power still would remain in the hands of HVC -- which is contesting one Assembly seat of Lahaul-Spiti as part of the pollpact with BJP.

The other seats -- Kinnaur, Bharmaur and Pragpur -- has gone to the BJP. The BJP cannot afford to lose more than one seat (out of three) to stay in power. ``We know how significant these elections are for us,'' admits Khushi Ram Balnatah, BJP general secretary, just as CLP leader Virbhadra Singh is determined to give a tough time to the rivals.

In Pragpur, the BJP has decided to field Nirmala Devi, widow of Virender Kumar, BJP MLA, who died before the poll results were announced. The Congress proposes to retain its previous candidate Yog Raj, who had lost to late Virender Kumar by over 1,200 votes. This reserve Assembly seat had traditionally been a BJP bastion and still continues to be so.

In Kinnaur, the BJP-HVC has succeeded in persuading S C Negi, potential nominee of HVC, to retire from the contest and support Chet Ram Negi of the BJP. The Congress has re-fielded its sitting MLA Jagat Singh Negi, who faces an uphill task because of the prevailing feeling of resentment againsthim.

The Lahaul-Spiti constituency will witness a triangular contest as besides Congress' Raghubir Singh Thakur, another party leader Ravi Thakur is also in the fray. The BJP has decided to retire its nominee in favour of HVC. The seat had earlier been with the Congress but the sitting MLA, then minister of state for tribal development Phung Chug Rai was denied a ticket.