BJP Forced Sukhu Government to Hold Panchayat Elections: Jairam Thakur

Kullu, October 11: Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Jairam Thakur accused the Congress-led state government of attempting to delay panchayat elections and claimed that the BJP’s legal battle compelled it to conduct the polls.

Addressing a felicitation conference for newly elected public representatives and party workers in Kullu, Thakur congratulated the elected panchayat and urban local body representatives. He said the BJP had pursued the matter from the state Assembly to the High Court and Supreme Court to protect democratic rights.

Thakur claimed that BJP candidates became Zila Parishad chairpersons in 11 of Himachal Pradesh’s 12 districts. He also said the party secured mayor and deputy mayor positions in three of the four municipal corporations of Dharamshala, Mandi, Palampur and Solan. He described the results as a sign of public dissatisfaction with the state government.

The BJP leader alleged that development work had slowed and that internal differences within the Congress and the government were affecting the state. He urged party workers to strengthen the organisation and highlight what he described as the government’s failures.

Thakur also expressed confidence that the BJP would return to power with a majority in the next Assembly elections. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and guidance for strengthening the party and thanked former minister Govind Singh Thakur for organising the event.

Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, former minister Govind Singh Thakur, MLAs Surender Shourie and Lokender Kumar, BJP state general secretary Payal Vaidya, district president Amit Sood, newly elected representatives and party workers attended the conference.

Samagra Sikhsha