Leader of Opposition claims BJP-backed candidates secured overwhelming majority in Mandi Zila Parishad; attacks government over internal rift and corruption allegations
Mandi, June 8: Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur launched a sharp attack on the Congress government, alleging that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is attempting to hide his political and administrative failures through false claims and misleading statements.
Addressing reporters in Mandi after meeting 29 BJP-backed members elected to the Mandi Zila Parishad, Jai Ram Thakur said that the BJP has emerged as the dominant force in the district and is poised to secure 10 out of the 12 Zila Parishad seats. He described the outcome as a clear indication of public support for the BJP and growing dissatisfaction with the state government.
Reacting to the ongoing exchange of remarks between Chief Minister Sukhu and former Congress leader Neeraj Bharti, the Leader of Opposition alleged that the controversy had exposed the reality behind the government’s anti-drug campaign. He questioned why the Congress retained Neeraj Bharti in a senior party position if the allegations being made against him were true.
Jai Ram Thakur also accused the Chief Minister of promoting only a select faction within the Congress party while frequently accusing the BJP of factionalism. He claimed that dissent within the Congress had become increasingly visible, citing criticism from senior party leaders and their family members.
Escalating his attack, Thakur alleged that corruption had become deeply entrenched under the present government. He claimed that issues once discussed privately among the public are now being openly raised by Congress leaders and legislators themselves. The BJP leader alleged that the state’s image had suffered due to allegations of corruption and accused the government of failing to provide transparent and accountable governance.
Referring to the recent Panchayati Raj and local body election results, Jai Ram Thakur said BJP-supported candidates had performed exceptionally well across the state. According to him, BJP-backed candidates won nearly 75 percent of the posts of Pradhans and Deputy Pradhans, while also securing victories in three out of four municipal corporations.
Taking a dig at the Chief Minister, Thakur said the Congress had performed poorly even in Hamirpur district and Nadaun constituency, claiming that public anger against the government’s policies was reflected in the election results. He asserted that the mandate was a strong message against the Congress government and predicted that it would have a significant impact on the 2027 Assembly elections.
The Leader of Opposition reiterated that the BJP would continue to raise public issues both inside and outside the Assembly and oppose what it described as anti-people decisions of the state government.
MLAs Anil Sharma, Vinod Kumar and Purna Chand, BJP State Spokesperson Ajay Rana, District President Nihal Chand and several senior party leaders were also present on the occasion.
