The North News
Shimla, December 12
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Jagat Prakash Nadda has said that only a “double-engine” government—where the same party is in power at both the Centre and the state—can ensure development in Himachal Pradesh. Addressing a felicitation rally in Shimla after offering prayers at the Tara Devi and Jakhu temples, Nadda cited the BJP’s recent electoral victory in Bihar as evidence of public support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He said voters across sections, including women, youth, farmers and workers, had endorsed the Prime Minister’s policies.
“The mandate from Bihar sends a clear message that politics driven by appeasement and infiltration has no place in India,” Nadda said, without naming specific parties. Referring to Himachal Pradesh, he recalled warning voters during the last assembly elections against electing the Congress, arguing that development in the hill state depended on alignment with the Centre. He accused the Congress of being focused on power rather than long-term planning, saying its political approach differed fundamentally from that of the BJP.
Nadda also underlined the BJP’s organisational expansion, saying the party aimed to build 787 offices nationwide, with 617 already completed. In Himachal Pradesh, he said, nine party offices were operational and work on the remaining ones was under way. These offices, he added, were intended to function as centres for dialogue, planning and public engagement.
He said Indian politics had changed significantly over the past 11 years, moving away from what he described as family- or caste-driven governance towards accountability. Prime Minister Modi, he said, had redefined leadership by presenting himself as a “Pradhan Sevak” or chief servant of the people.
Contrasting the BJP with previous Congress-led governments, Nadda said the current administration at the Centre functioned on a “report-card” model, delivering on its promises. He pointed to the abrogation of Article 370, the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and the abolition of triple talaq as examples of what he described as decisive reforms.
Turning to Himachal Pradesh, Nadda accused the Congress-led state government of failing to effectively utilise funds provided by the Centre. He said the Union government had released ₹3,789 crore for disaster relief, along with funds for smart city projects, infrastructure, medical institutions and industrial development. He alleged that several centrally assisted schemes had seen only partial utilisation.
Nadda questioned Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s claims that the Centre had neglected Himachal Pradesh, saying the state government had not brought forward any major new projects for approval. “If a well-prepared proposal comes, it will be cleared immediately,” he said.
He concluded by urging BJP workers to take the party’s message to villages and towns across the state, calling on voters to support what he described as development-oriented governance.
