Mandi: Leader of Opposition and former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday alleged that the Congress distanced itself from the Panchayati Raj elections after realising it was headed for a major defeat.
Interacting with the media after meeting newly elected representatives who won in the first phase of the Panchayat polls, Jai Ram Thakur said the public mandate in favour of the BJP had signalled the “countdown” for the Congress government in the state.
He claimed that the Panchayat elections had turned into a “semi-final of power politics” and the overwhelming support received by BJP-backed candidates reflected growing public dissatisfaction with the ruling Congress government.
The former Chief Minister accused the Congress leadership of attempting to influence the elections by presenting “misleading figures” after the local body poll results. However, he said the outcome of the first phase had left the ruling party disappointed.
Thakur further alleged that the state government violated the Model Code of Conduct by hurriedly convening a Cabinet meeting without informing the Election Commission and announcing populist decisions aimed at influencing voters. Despite these efforts, he said, people chose to support the BJP.
Accusing the Congress of relying on “false guarantees” and political inducements, Thakur claimed the party had tried to woo voters through announcements and financial influence during both Assembly and local body elections.
He asserted that the people of Himachal Pradesh had now made up their minds to remove the Congress government from power for allegedly betraying public trust.
Jai Ram Thakur also assured newly elected representatives that no discrimination would be allowed in development works and urged them to work honestly for the welfare and reconstruction of disaster-affected areas in the state.
