In a significant political development ahead of future electoral battles, Soniya Sharma, a Congress-backed councillor from Bhuntar Nagar Panchayat, formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jai Ram Thakur, along with BJP state in-charge Shrikant Sharma, welcomed Soniya into the party fold during a “samman samaroh” (honouring ceremony) organised for winners of recent Urban Local Bodies (ULB) and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) elections at Dev Sadan here today.
Addressing the gathering of newly elected representatives, Thakur framed the BJP’s strong performance in the panchayat and municipal elections as a public mandate against the current Congress state administration. He accused the ruling government of attempting to delay the electoral process, claiming that legal and political struggles were necessary to ensure the polls took place. Highlighting specific victories in Mandi, Dharamshala and Solan, Thakur asserted that these results demonstrated the party’s growing grassroots strength and momentum heading into future Assembly contests. He called for unity among party workers to consolidate their influence at the local level.
Shrikant Sharma launched a sharp critique of the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government, alleging it rose to power through deceptive promises and now operates under a dictatorial regime driven by political malice. He accused the administration of hostility toward Sanatan culture and claimed that journalists and Opposition members were being unfairly targeted with legal actions.
Sharma predicted that voters would restore the BJP government in Himachal Pradesh by the 2027 Assembly elections. The ceremony underscored the BJP’s efforts to position itself as the dominant force in the state’s local governance landscape.
