Jai Ram Thakur on Saturday accused the Congress government led by Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of “blatantly violating” the Model Code of Conduct during the ongoing Panchayati Raj and urban local body elections in Himachal Pradesh.
Addressing a press conference in Mandi, the former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition alleged that the state government had initially attempted to postpone the elections by invoking provisions of the Disaster Management Act due to fears of electoral defeat.
Thakur claimed that after the Himachal Pradesh High Court directed the government to conduct the elections by the end of April, the matter reached the Supreme Court of India, which ordered that the polls be completed before May 31.
“If elections are being held in Himachal Pradesh today, it is only because of Supreme Court orders,” Thakur said, alleging that the Congress government was now trying to “influence and hijack the public mandate”.
BJP targets cabinet decisions during MCC period
The BJP leader alleged that despite the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, the state cabinet recently announced decisions aimed at influencing voters.
He specifically criticised the government’s move linked to the Congress poll promise of providing Rs 1,500 per month to eligible women.
“The decision was deliberately announced in the middle of elections to influence voters. If the government was serious, it could have implemented it earlier or after the elections,” Thakur alleged.
He also objected to the government’s decisions to increase honorariums for part-time workers and extend the retirement age of medical college professors, claiming the announcements were politically motivated and designed to influence specific voter groups during the election process.
Allegations of pressure on Independents, BJP-backed candidates
Thakur further accused the state government of misusing the administrative machinery to pressure Independent candidates and BJP-supported winners in municipal councils and nagar panchayats to support Congress-backed nominees.
He alleged that threats of vigilance inquiries, police cases and transfers of family members employed in government service were being used to influence political loyalties.
The BJP leader also claimed that the government delayed the notification process for elected representatives in municipal bodies despite Supreme Court directions in an attempt to influence the election of presidents and vice-presidents in local bodies.
Targeting Chief Minister Sukhu, Thakur alleged that announcements regarding development grants during election campaigning also amounted to violations of the Model Code of Conduct.
He said the BJP would approach the Election Commission of India and, if necessary, the Governor over the matter.
Expressing confidence in the BJP’s electoral prospects, Thakur said the party would continue its strong performance in the upcoming municipal corporation, block samiti and zila parishad elections across Himachal Pradesh.
