Shimla:
When Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi waved an induction heater at his rally in Mandi saying, "With this induction heater, you can ensure that the Congress' goose is cooked", he was touching a critical issue.
To the uninitiated, it's a simple induction heater but for the voter in Himachal Pradesh, it means more than just a sop promised as part of the BJPs manifesto here.
A number of regions in Himachal Pradesh will soon be battling extreme cold in the winter months: a time when far flung and iced-capped hilly regions rely primarily on the LPG cylinders, not just for cooking but even to keep themselves warm.
Since burning of firewood is not allowed due to environmental concerns, the recent decision of the union cabinet to restrict Subsidised LPG cylinders to six comes with its own problems.
Capping the LPG cylinders to six is a sensitive issue in the hill state of Himachal and one independent candidate in Shimla has even made it his election symbol. And even for the Congress party in the state, it's too difficult to ignore.
Congress candidate Virbhadra Singh is aware of how emotive the issue is. Addressing a rally with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, he said, "Hilly areas are affected by LPG prices and subsidies. I wrote a letter to Soniaji about that. Himachal and other hilly areas should be given 12 cylinders under subsidy. I have been assured this is under consideration of the central government. If we come to power, we will increase subsidy to 12 cylinders."
A reflection of the worry homemakers like Vimla Kamta, who has a family of five, already feel. She said, "We need at least 10 cylinders, that too if we are extremely cautious with the usage. In the region where we stay, we need more cylinders to keep us warm during winter."
A lady carrying her child on her back from nearby Kotkhai said, "The LPG issue is very important for us...price rise is breaking our back. If subsidised cylinders aren't increased how will we manage?"
It's a question that doesn't come with an easy answer.