Shimla, June 3
The political atmosphere in Himachal Pradesh has heated up after the results of the municipal bodies and Panchayati Raj elections triggered a sharp exchange of allegations between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress government.
BJP State Media In-Charge and MLA Randhir Sharma claimed that the election outcome reflected growing public dissatisfaction with the Congress-led state government. He said the results had clearly indicated that the people were ready for a political change in the state.
Sharma alleged that the Congress government had repeatedly attempted to delay the elections by citing reorganization, delimitation, roster issues, and administrative hurdles. According to him, the ruling party was aware of the public anger against it and feared electoral defeat. He stated that the elections were eventually held only after court intervention.
Highlighting BJP’s performance, Sharma said the party secured a clear majority in key municipal corporations, including Mandi, Dharamshala, and Solan. He also claimed that BJP-backed candidates performed strongly in municipal councils and nagar panchayats across the state.
Calling the results a “public rejection” of the Congress government, Sharma accused the ruling party of relying on “false guarantees and hollow promises.” He further demanded that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu resign on moral grounds and pave the way for fresh Assembly elections.
Reacting strongly to BJP’s remarks, Himachal Pradesh Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi accused the BJP of hypocrisy and said the party had no moral right to lecture others on ethics. He alleged that the BJP had earlier attempted to topple the Congress government despite it having a majority, using central agencies and money power.
Negi claimed that Congress victories in six out of nine Assembly by-election seats had already demonstrated public support for the government. He said that if morality was the issue, BJP legislators should resign first.
The Revenue Minister also targeted the Central Government, stating that several major issues existed against the Center and that it, too, should step down on moral grounds.
Meanwhile, commenting on the alleged “Khalsa Tax Naka” issue on the Punjab-Himachal border, Negi accused BJP leaders of trying to create unrest and build a narrative against the Congress government. He assured that the safety and security of Himachal Pradesh residents remained the government’s top priority and said discussions would also be held with the Punjab Government regarding the matter.
