Shimla: Seeking to retain power in Himachal Pradesh, ruling BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) on February 18 fielded its hindutva icon and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi who indicated that development and cultural nationalism would form the main content of his electioneering for the February 26 Assembly polls.

"Development and cultural nationalism were declared agenda of BJP on which it was contesting elections in all the states," he told reporters on his arrival in Shimla for a four-day campaign.

Modi said BJP would contest the polls on its ideology and focus on performance of Dhumal government, liberal Central assistance and special love of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for the state.

He said he would address public meetings in all the four Parliamentary constituencies of the state and explain BJP's perception of cultural nationalism.

The issues raised by Congress had failed to dominate the poll agenda and its attempts do indulge in mudslinging by levelling false and baseless allegations had boomeranged, Modi claimed.

He denied that the atmosphere in Gujarat was communally surcharged due to which foreign investors were not willing to invest saying Rs 8,000 crore had been invested in the state in the past eight months.

Besides, peaceful conduct of urban local bodies elections on February 17 in which about 53-lakhs voters participated was a proof that there was peace and congenial climate for investment in Gujarat, the Chief Minister said.

PTI