BJP will not return to power in Himachal: CM Sukhu

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CM Sukhu targets BJP over disaster relief, OPS, education and internal divisions, while highlighting his government’s achievements and ongoing development projects.

Shimla , September 1

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday hit back at Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur’s claim that the BJP would return to power in the state, saying Thakur was “dreaming of forming a government in broad daylight”. Sukhu said the BJP would win fewer seats in the next election.

Sukhu questioned why the people of Himachal Pradesh would vote for the BJP, alleging that the party had failed on issues including disaster relief, employees’ arrears, the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), education quality and paper leaks.

The Chief Minister said the BJP had failed to stand with people during the disaster, while the Congress government had provided relief of up to Rs 7 lakh to disaster-affected families. He said the government was standing with employees and had already cleared the arrears of Class-IV employees. Arrears for Class-I and Class-II employees would also be cleared soon, he added.

Targeting the previous BJP government over education, Sukhu claimed that Himachal Pradesh had slipped to 21st position in education quality during its tenure. He also alleged that question papers were leaked under the Subordinate Services Selection Board. Sukhu said the Congress government had improved the state’s position to fifth in education quality.

Sukhu further alleged that several factions had emerged within the BJP and claimed that Jai Ram Thakur was having to fight with his own party groups. He also claimed that some BJP leaders were in contact with him.

The Chief Minister said the Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding Schools and CBSE-pattern schools introduced by his government would continue and that no one would be able to change the system.

Taking a dig at the BJP leadership, Sukhu said a three-time chief minister, Raman Singh, had been made Assembly Speaker, while the BJP’s central leadership had summoned Jai Ram Thakur to Delhi and reprimanded him. He claimed that the BJP’s “suitcase politics” had also failed.

Sukhu said he had no need to fight with the state BJP and was instead fighting the BJP in Delhi for the rights of Himachal Pradesh. He added that the people, deities and God were with him.

On swine flu, Sukhu said the government had received information from PGI Chandigarh about a patient testing positive for the infection. He said the issue had been raised by the Leader of Opposition and assured that the government would take necessary action. The state, he added, had capable and specialist doctors.

Regarding a meeting held in the Assembly complex, Sukhu said discussions were held on the first phase of the Him-Chandigarh project. He said the government was developing three new cities and the Sirsa River Front, which would provide better facilities to people and help increase the state’s revenue.