Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday intensified the Congress campaign for the upcoming Palampur Municipal Corporation elections, urging voters to elect Congress candidates from all 15 wards to accelerate development in the town.
Addressing a large public gathering at Gandhi Ground in Palampur, Sukhu said a Congress victory would ensure balanced urban growth and strengthen civic infrastructure in the region. He asserted that the state government was committed to improving roads, drinking water schemes, sanitation facilities and other public amenities across urban areas of Himachal Pradesh. According to him, Palampur had witnessed significant progress under Congress leadership and several more development projects would be launched in the coming years.
The Chief Minister also launched a sharp attack on the BJP and the Narendra Modi-led Central Government, alleging that Congress-ruled states were being subjected to “step-motherly treatment”. He claimed that the Centre had stopped the Revenue Deficit Grant to Himachal Pradesh, creating serious financial challenges for the state government. Sukhu further alleged that despite repeated appeals, adequate financial assistance had not been provided for the rehabilitation of flood-affected families.
Highlighting relief measures taken by the state government, Sukhu said compensation for fully damaged houses had been increased from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh after amendments to the relief manual. He claimed Himachal Pradesh was the first state in the country to provide such enhanced disaster compensation.
Sukhu also accused the previous BJP government led by Jai Ram Thakur of leaving behind a debt burden of nearly Rs 78,000 crore. Earlier, the Chief Minister participated in a roadshow in support of Congress candidates along with senior party leaders.
