BJP Alleges Record Loans and Patronage Politics by Congress Government Ahead of Elections

Shimla, June 30, 2024

Karan Nanda, BJP’s State Media Coordinator, conducted a campaign in booth number 23 of the Hamirpur Assembly constituency in support of candidate Ashish Sharma. Going door-to-door, all BJP booth presidents, workers, and supporters promoted the party’s agenda.

Speaking on the occasion, Karan Nanda criticized the small hill state of Himachal Pradesh for being trapped in a debt spiral. He squarely blamed not just the responsible authorities but also the Chief Minister and his allies for burdening the state with expenses aimed solely at benefiting their allies, leaving little allocation for developmental projects.

“The Comptroller and Auditor General of India had been pointing towards the debt trap, and now it has become a reality,” Nanda stated, highlighting that Himachal Pradesh is saddled with debts exceeding Rs. 85,000 crores. Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukkhu himself admitted that the state government had no choice but to take loans to repay debts. The debt figure is expected to surpass Rs. 1 lakh crores in the next fiscal year.

Nanda emphasized that Himachal Pradesh is in a precarious economic situation, with the Chief Minister resorting to loans for supplying rations, meeting expenses, and funding his government’s operations. “In the past 18 months, this government has set a record for borrowing, primarily to appease their allies,” he added.

The BJP media coordinator urged voters to consider these economic challenges while casting their votes, warning that continuing with the current government could lead to further financial instability in the state.