Political Turmoil in Himachal Pradesh: BJP Leaders Criticize State Government

In a recent statement, Dr. Rajeev Bindal, the Pradesh Adhyaksh (State President) of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), criticized the current state government of Himachal Pradesh, likening it to a ventilator-dependent patient barely clinging to life. He placed the blame for the political unrest squarely on the Sukhwindar Singh Sukhu-led administration.

According to Bindal, the present government in Himachal Pradesh has failed miserably, and the last 15 months of Congress governance have dealt a severe blow to the state’s development. Joining the chorus of dissent, Jairam Thakur, another BJP leader, accused the government of harassing its own party members out of political vendetta. He highlighted deteriorating law and order, targeting of legislators and their families, and withdrawal of security from those who voted against Congress in the Rajya Sabha elections.

Bihari Lal Sharma, the BJP Pradesh Mahamantri (State General Secretary) and Rajya Sabha MP, echoed these sentiments, describing the state government as a “time-pass government” with no credibility and stability. He held the Chief Minister accountable for the political turmoil and instability in the state, even during the ongoing by-elections.

The defection of several prominent leaders from Congress to BJP further underscored the dissatisfaction with the ruling party’s governance. These leaders, including Ravi Thakur, Sudhir Sharma, Indu Lakhmapal, Devendra Butta, and Chaitanya Sharma, expressed disappointment over the government’s failure to address the developmental needs of their constituencies.

Meanwhile, the BJP leaders accused the Congress of indulging in nepotism, corruption, and obstructing the state’s progress. They criticized the arbitrary removal of newly appointed councillors in Dharamshala and the intimidation tactics employed by the government to suppress dissent.

Former minister Bikram Thakur lambasted Chief Minister Sukhwindar Singh Sukhu’s administration, accusing it of neglecting the youth and exploiting them for political gains. He alleged that the government had deceived thousands of unemployed youth with false promises of jobs, only to reward its cronies with cabinet positions.

In response to these criticisms, the state government remained largely silent, failing to address the concerns raised by the opposition leaders. With dissent brewing within the ruling party and mounting pressure from the opposition, the political landscape in Himachal Pradesh appears turbulent, with the state government struggling to maintain stability amidst growing discontent.