In the wake of confiscation of over 40 lakh rupees of ill-gotten money from various parts of election-bound Himachal Pradesh, the Election Commission is keeping a strict vigil across the inter-state borders, especially with Punjab, for the November 4 assembly polls. The Commission sources said,to curb misuse of money power during elections, the EC has identified at least five assembly constituencies, including Una, Haroli, Solan, out of a total of 68 where expenditure observers will monitor if money power is used. These expenditure observers are in addition to the 26 general observers and one police observer appointed by the Commission to ensure smooth, free and fair elections and to monitor the law and order situation during the polls.

Meanwhile, 455 candidates are left in the fray for the election to 68-member assembly slated to be held on the 4th of next month. Yesterday was the last day of withdrawal of nomination papers.

Although many of the rebels of the BJP and the Congress have withdrawn their nominations against official candidates but there are about 30 seats from where the rebel candidates of the two parties are still in the electoral field.

The prominent contestants in the fray are Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal of the BJP from Hamirpur, the Congress State President Virbhadra Singh from Shimla Rural, President of Himachal Lokhit Party, a breakaway group of BJP, Maheshwar Singh and the Industry Minister Kishan Kapoor of BJP.

In the election campaign, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, BJP National Vice President Shanta Kumar and General Secretary Jagat Prakash Nadda are campaigning for the BJP candidates while Congress State President Vir Bhadra Singh and Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma are campaigning in favour of Congress candidates.