People Should Hold Congress Government Accountable for Neglecting Mandi: Jai Ram Thakur
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Mandi, May 11: Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur intensified the BJP’s campaign for the Mandi Municipal Corporation elections by addressing a series of public meetings and seeking support for BJP candidates across different parts of the town.
Addressing gatherings at Paddal, Nela, Talyahar, Bhagwahan and Mangwai in Mandi, Jai Ram Thakur accused the Congress government of continuously neglecting Mandi and misleading people through what he termed as “false guarantees.”
He alleged that despite completing more than three-and-a-half years in office, the Congress government had failed to fulfil its promises of “system change” and instead stalled development projects initiated during the BJP regime. He claimed that Rs 15 crore allocated earlier for development works in Mandi was withdrawn and diverted elsewhere, reflecting political vendetta rather than developmental priorities.
The BJP leader also criticised the Urban Development Minister for allegedly taking credit for projects approved by the Central Government and accused the state government of attempting to mislead the public through fresh budget announcements during election season.
Jai Ram Thakur further said that the Municipal Corporation was facing an acute shortage of staff and funds, causing inconvenience to residents even for routine civic works. He maintained that most visible development in Mandi had been possible due to financial support from the Centre and stressed the importance of coordination with the Central Government for accelerated growth under a future “double-engine government.”
Describing the Congress government as a “one-year guest,” he claimed that public sentiment had already turned against the ruling party and predicted BJP’s return to power in Himachal Pradesh.
Targeting Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Jai Ram Thakur accused the government of financial mismanagement and demanded a white paper on the utilisation of central funds. He also alleged that the proposed Rs 250 crore Mandi Shivdham project had been diluted after funds were shifted elsewhere, despite plans to develop it as a major tourism attraction linked with 81 historic temples of the region.
Reaffirming BJP’s commitment to urban development, he promised better beautification, parking infrastructure and modern civic amenities to make Mandi an “ideal Municipal Corporation.”
During the campaign, Jai Ram Thakur also highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Nation First” vision and appealed to people to adopt the principles of self-reliance and “Vocal for Local” to strengthen the Indian economy and contribute towards nation-building.
